Feasibility of Power and Methanol Productions by Entrained Flow Coal Gasification System

Sustainability metrics, cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment, and techno economic evaluation have been presented for an optimized entrained flow coal oxy-combustion plant with carbon capture producing power, and methanol. The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility of co-producing methanol in a coal-based power plant with entrained flow coal gasification system. Coal-based methanol economy, as an attractive liquid transportation fuel as well as an essential intermediate chemical feedstock, can fill a possible gap between declining fossil fuel supplies and movement toward the hydrogen economy. Within the plant, firstly, the coal is fed to a pyrolysis reactor, and the volatile matter is fed into an oxy-combustion reactor, while the char is gasified in an entrained flow gasifier. The remaining char is gasified. The heat is used to produce electricity, while the syngas is converted to methanol. The integral plant consisting of an air separation unit, oxy-combustion of coal, gasification of char, electri...