Process Improvement Upgrading in Power-To-X (ptx) Processes

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This invention provides a method and system for improving Power-to-X (PtX) processes that convert biogas into methane (CH4) and other useful gases. By introducing an additional polymeric gas separation membrane into the process, the system can better recycle unused hydrogen and minimize losses of methane and energy during gas separation, increasing the overall efficiency and resource utilization of the PtX plant.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Biogas upgrading plants for renewable fuel production
• Power-to-gas facilities seeking to improve energy integration and efficiency
• Operations converting surplus renewable electricity and biogas into synthetic natural gas (SNG) for injection into gas grids
• Industrial hydrogen recycling in chemical or energy production processes
• Waste-to-energy plants aiming for higher methane yield and reduced greenhouse gas emissions

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Increases the recycling of hydrogen, reducing waste and improving resource use
• Minimizes methane slip and energy loss during gas separation, improving methane output and plant efficiency
• Allows for more flexible and efficient operation under part load conditions, making PtX processes more adaptable to variable renewable energy inputs
• Can be implemented with polymeric membranes, which are generally less costly and less demanding in terms of operating conditions compared to ceramic or metallic membranes
• Enhances sustainability of energy systems by optimizing use of renewable biogas and hydrogen streams

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

Thus, the objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for the optimization of the part load capabilities of a biogas based PtX conversion that offer a better capability of using hydrogen that is generated or has not been used in the methanation process for further process steps, such as a recycling into the methanation process.This objective according to the present invention by a method and a system (2) for the optimization of the part load capabilities of a biogas based PtX conversion, comprising:a) a fluidized bed reactor (18) enabled to convert biogas into a CH4-enriched product gas stream (16);a) a regular membrane upgrading unit (6) enabled to treat the CH4-enriched product gas stream (16) wherein the regular membrane upgrading unit (6) at least comprises a main membrane (8) being enabled to separate CO2 from methane to yield injectable CH4 enriched gas and a CO2 cleaning membrane (10) being enabled to recover permeated methane downstream of the main membrane (8) from CO2; andc) a polymeric gas separation membrane (4) being enabled to treat the CH4-enriched product gas stream (16) wherein the polymeric gas separation membrane (4) is in addition to the regular membrane upgrading unit (6) and is positioned downstream of the fluidized bed reactor (18) and upstream of the regular membrane upgrading unit (6).By the provision of the additional polymeric gas separation membrane, the method and the system allow to increase the recycle rate of hydrogen in the process and therefore reduce its loss through the off gas stream. At the same time, the present invention also allows to decrease the slip of CH4 through the same path and reduce the energy loss through the off gas stream.