Process and apparatus

Abstract

The present invention concerns a process for the manufacture of one or more useful products comprising: gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass in a gasification zone to generate a raw synthesis gas; optionally partially oxidising the raw synthesis gas in a partial oxidation zone to generate partially oxidised raw synthesis gas; supplying at least a portion of the, optionally partially oxidised, raw synthesis gas to a clean-up zone to remove contaminants and provide a clean synthesis gas; optionally shifting the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of the clean synthesis gas in a hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio shifting zone to generate shifted clean synthesis gas; supplying the, optionally shifted, clean synthesis gas to a first further reaction train to generate at least one first useful product and a tailgas; optionally upgrading the first useful product in a second further reaction train to generate a second useful product and a light gas fraction; and diverting selectively on demand a portion of at least one of the carbonaceous feedstock, the clean synthesis gas, the tailgas and the light gas fraction to heat or power generation within the process, in response to external factors to control the carbon intensity of the overall process and enable GHG emission savings.

1 . A process for the manufacture of one or more useful products comprising:
 a. gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass to generate a raw synthesis gas;   b. supplying at least a portion of the raw synthesis gas to a clean-up zone to remove contaminants and provide a clean synthesis gas;   c. importing natural gas and/or power into the process;   d. supplying the clean synthesis gas to a first further reaction train to generate at least one first useful product and a tailgas; and   e. diverting selectively on demand a portion of at least one of the carbonaceous feedstock, the clean synthesis gas, the tailgas and (if present) a light gas fraction to heat or power generation within the process, responsive to step c, to control the carbon intensity of the process.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein means within the process are provided selectively on demand to divert one or more of:
 i. a portion of the carbonaceous feedstock to a combustor to generate energy for the production of steam for use on plant or for power generation; or 
 ii. a portion of the clean synthesis gas as fuel gas for use on plant and/or or for the generation of steam for use on plant and/or for power generation; or 
 iii. at least a portion of the tailgas to:
 the first further reaction train as internal recycle; or 
 the partial oxidation zone, when present; or 
 the hydrogen to carbon monoxide shifting zone, when present; or 
 a steam methane reforming zone to generate a reformed tailgas having a higher hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio than the tailgas and supplying the reformed tailgas as a feed to the first further reaction train; or 
 a fuel gas header for use on plant; or 
 for the generation of steam for use on plant or for power generation; or 
 
 iv. at least a portion of alight gas fraction (if present) to:
 a partial oxidation zone, when present; or 
 a third useful product stream; or 
 fuel gas header for use on plant; or 
 for the generation of steam for use on plant or for power generation. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein means are provided selectively on demand to divert both a portion of the carbonaceous feedstock to a combustor to generate energy for the production of steam for use on plant or for power generation, and a portion of the clean synthesis gas as fuel gas for use on plant or for the generation of steam for use on plant or for power generation. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein means are provided selectively on demand also to divert at least a portion of the tailgas to one or more of the first further reaction train; and/or a partial oxidation zone, when present; and/or a hydrogen to carbon monoxide shifting zone, when present; and/or a steam methane reforming zone for additional syngas production and/or or for the generation of steam for use on plant or for power generation. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein means are provided selectively on demand also to divert at least a portion of a light gas fraction (if present) to one or more of the partial oxidation zone, when present; and/or or for the generation of steam for use on plant or for power generation and/or recovery as a useful product. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the carbonaceous feedstock has fluctuating compositional characteristics and comprises at least one of woody biomass, municipal solid waste and/or commercial and industrial waste or a combination of these. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the process further comprises using a biomass or waste boiler to produce high-pressure steam and power. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the removal of ammoniacal, sulphurous and carbon dioxide impurities is a low-steam physical absorption process. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8  wherein the process further comprises using at least a portion of the steam gained from the low-steam physical absorption process for use in upstream and/or downstream processes. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9  wherein the upstream process is a feedstock pre-processing step drying the carbonaceous feedstock prior to feeding it into a biomass and/or waste boiler. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10  wherein drying the carbonaceous feedstock results in the carbonaceous feedstock having a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 10  wherein drying the carbonaceous feedstock results in the carbonaceous feedstock having a moisture content of less than about 15% by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 10  wherein drying the carbonaceous feedstock results in the carbonaceous feedstock having a moisture content of less than about 10% by weight. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the first useful product is produced by subjecting the clean synthesis gas to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14  wherein the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit converts the clean synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 15  wherein the liquid hydrocarbons are upgraded into the second useful product. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16  wherein at least a part of the liquid hydrocarbons are upgraded by at least one of hydroprocessing, product fractionation, hydrocracking and/or isomerisation to produce the second useful product. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one useful product comprises synthetic paraffinic kerosene and/or diesel and/or naphtha. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein step a. further comprises partially oxidising the raw synthesis gas in a partial oxidation zone to generate partially oxidised raw synthesis gas. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein step c. comprises shifting the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of the clean synthesis gas in a hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio shifting zone to generate shifted clean synthesis gas. 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein step d. comprises upgrading the first useful product in a second further reaction train to generate a second useful product and a light gas fraction. 
     
     
         22 . A plant configured to operate the process of  claim 1  comprising:
 a. means for gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass in a gasification zone to generate a raw synthesis gas; 
 b. means for supplying at least a portion of the raw synthesis gas to a clean-up zone to remove contaminants and provide a clean synthesis gas; 
 c. means for importing natural gas and/or power into the process; 
 d. means for supplying the clean synthesis gas to a first further reaction train to generate at least one first useful product and a tailgas; and 
 e. means for diverting selectively on demand a portion of at least one of the carbonaceous feedstock, the clean synthesis gas, the tailgas and (if present) a light gas fraction to heat or power generation within the process, responsive to step c, to control the carbon intensity of the process. 
 
     
     
         23 . The plant of  claim 22  wherein means a. further comprises means for partially oxidising the raw synthesis gas in a partial oxidation zone to generate partially oxidised raw synthesis gas. 
     
     
         24 . The plant of  claim 22  wherein means c. comprises means for shifting the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of the clean synthesis gas in a hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio shifting zone to generate shifted clean synthesis gas. 
     
     
         25 . The plant of  claim 22  wherein means d. comprises means for upgrading the first useful product in a second further reaction train to generate a second useful product and a light gas fraction. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)