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With the high capital cost of gasification projects, what combination of incentives are required to expand worldwide gasification capacity? In addition to petcoke and coal-based feedstocks, what are some other feedstocks that are being targeted for gasification?
 
Answers
24/10/2007 A: Alan Goelzer, Jacobs Consultancy, alan.goelzer@jacobs.com
Key incentives for incorporating 'polygeneration' Gasification Plant within specific refinery configuration are (a) self-generation of high-purity hydrogen for intensive hydrotreating of both straight-run distillates and cracked distillates, (b) self-generation of electric power for the refinery, and (c) capability to capture up to 90% of carbon atoms in gasifier feed as CO2 suitable for sequestration. Currently, the high capital cost translates into longer time periods for "pay out"; some challenges exist--perhaps temporarily---in terms of technology supplier + engineering contractor + hardware supplier capacities to supply these; and operability concerns with respect to using high-purity hydrogen as CGT fuel [diluted of course with nitrogen and water vapor]. Other feedstocks of interest---besides petroleum coke to solid feed gasifiers---are viscous deep cut vacuum residues and pitch from solvent deasphalters. ......
23/10/2007 A: Pietro Di Zanno, Air Liquide E&C, pietro.dizanno@airliquide.com
The first thing one needs to do is justify as much of the project without subsidies. This means having a project with the cheapest possible feed, having a scale, and supplying several products simultaneously, i.e., hydrogen, power, steam and syngas for chemical's production and/or synthetic natural gas. Industrial gas companies such as Air Liquide may be interested in off-takes of some or all of these.
The second thing you do is look for other feedstocks that could help, such as biomasses, liquid, such as chicken manure, etc.
The third is to have a focussed approach to the project, and not add revenue streams as you go along. This adds delay and engineering costs.
CO2 capture and sequestration is a possible revenue stream or eliminate extra costs. This would be appropriate post 2012, in the EU first, before North America and not China for now.
Technologies such as Lurgi Gasification or Shell or GE gasifiers needs to be compared ASAP. Other technology suppliers such as Air Liquide could be interested in providing over-the-fence oxygen, reducing your capex needs.
Finally, subsidies could be had for electricity pricing or technology development, if circumstances within the country warrant.......
23/10/2007 A: Andrew Vieler, Simulation Engineering NL bv, avieler@simeng.nl
I believe the simple answer is anything which contains C and H. There are some pilot solid waste plants operating. Seek "plasma gasification" as an example in Wikipedia.......