Using hydrogen-rich multifuel to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emission for high-energy furnace

✍ Scribed by Shih-Chieh Hsieh; Chih-Ju G. Jou

• Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 303 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1944-7442
• DOI: 10.1002/ep.10347

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The waste gas generated in petrochemical manufacturing processes, such as the catalytic reforming, catalytic cracking, and other petrochemical units contains complex components, which are worth recovery and reuse. In this research, replacing the natural gas (NG) partially with a hydrogen‐rich multifuel (MG) is tested onsite to power a full‐scale furnace (70% loading) used in a distillation operation. When the NG is mixed with MG, the mixture contains 30–80% H~2~ (average 60%), and its thermal NO~x~ is the dominant NO~x~ formation mechanism. The formation of nitrogen oxides increases by 42.0–42.1 mL/m^3^ (ppmv), thus reducing 2.2 × 10^3^ tons of annual CO~2~ production or achieving savings of 5.7–5.9 × 10^3^ m^3^/yr NG usage. However, if MG replaces NG as the major fuel gas, the prompt NO~x~ is the dominant NO~x~ formation mechanism. Therefore, the MG can be used as a low‐cost alternative to achieve savings on fuel cost and reduce CO~2~ emission. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2009