Syngas
Syngas (from
synthesis
gas) is the name given to gases of varying composition that are generated in the
steam reforming of
natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons to produce
hydrogen, the
gasification of coal
[Beychok, M.R., Coal gasification and the Phenosolvan process, American Chemical Society 168th National Meeting, Atlantic City, September 1974] and in some types of
waste-to-energy gasification facilities. The name comes from their use as intermediates in creating synthetic natural gas (SNG)
[Beychok, M.R., Process and environmental technology for producing SNG and liquid fuels, U.S. EPA report EPA-660/2-75-011, May 1975] and synthetic
ammonia. Syngas is also used as an intermediate in producing
synthetic petroleum for use as a
fuel or
lubricant via
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Syngas consists primarily of
carbon monoxide and
hydrogen, and has less than half the energy density of natural gas. Syngas is combustible and often used as a fuel source or as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals. Syngas for use as a fuel is most often produced by gasification of coal or municipal waste. As an intermediate in the large-scale, industrial synthesis of hydrogen and ammonia, it is also produced from natural gas (via the steam reforming reaction) as follows:
CH4 +
H2O â†'
CO + 3
H2The syngas produced in large waste-to-energy gasification faciliies is used as fuel to generate electricity.
[Waste-to-energy plants]Coal gasification processes are reasonably efficient and were used for many years to manufacture
illuminating gas (coal gas) for
gas lighting, before
electric lighting became widely available.
*
IGCC*
Gasification*
Manufactured Gas Plant*
Town gas
