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SynGen
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The SynGen reactor converts a number of
hydrocarbon or carbohydrate feedstock into the Synthesis
Gas (syngas) being a mixture of Hydrogen H2 and
carbon monoxide CO. Such a mixture can be then used to produce
petrochemicals such as methanol, higher alcohols, dimethyl ether, or
synthetic fuels (synfuel) through the Fischer-Tropsch
synthesis. The syngas can also be considered as direct fuel for some Fuel Cells (FC) like Solid Oxide (SOFC)
or Molten Carbonate (MCFC) types. Syngas can be also considered as source
of pure Hydrogen gas for other
types of FC (like PEM) or other industries (space, metallurgy, etc.).
The essence of this technology is passing the feed
(for example natural gas) and an oxidizing stream (for example air) through
a cold-plasma discharge generated by electricity called “GlidArc”. Such a discharge is produced
between two, three, six or more (even hundreds) electrodes by high-voltage
poly-phase electricity (see GlidArc-I or GlidArc-II principles).
SynGen differs
from other "plasma torches" in that the power consumption is
quite low as compared to conventional plasmas. The discharge excites the
fuel and oxidant molecules, providing initial activation energy for the
chemical reactions to go forward and the subsequent conversion to syngas.
The most important aspect of the SynGen technology is its economic benefit
in the production of syngas compared to competing technologies.
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Several elementary processes can be performed in
SynGen at the same time. For example the Methane can be converted to syngas
through:
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Exothermic partial oxidation
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CH4+ 0.5 O2 = CO + 2 H2
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Endothermic steam reforming
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CH4+ H2O = CO + 3 H2
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Endothermic dry reforming
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CH4+ CO2 = 2 CO + 2 H2
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Therefore the SynGen process allows various natural
gases (light, heavy, acid with a high CO2 content) to be converted
into syngas economically. From a global warming context (especially as
concerns the associated gas flaring or venting) and in view of carbon taxes,
this is believed to be a tremendous breakthrough.
Initial development of the SynGen technology was
completed by some of ECP associates in France (see French patents N°
2,758,317, 2,773,500, and 2,786,409) and then its demonstration phase has
been performed in Alberta, Canada.
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