Design of optimal waste gas minimization networks for a synthetic liquid fuels (H‐coal) plant∗

Presented at the American Chemical Society I&EC Special Symposium, Emerging Technologies in Hazardous Waste Management IV, Atlanta, Georgia, September 21–23, 1992

Abstract

To make alternative fuel sources economically competitive with crude oil fractionation processes, the volume of waste generated during production of the synthetic fuel must be reduced in a cost‐effective manner. The purpose of this paper is to develop a systematic methodology to design optimal waste minimization networks to tackle air emissions generated during the production of synthetic fuels. In particular, the minimization of acid gas emissions is accomplished with the aid of a recently developed design notion of synthesizing REActive Mass‐Exchange Networks, REAMEN. The selection of the optimum process for minimizing wastes from synthetic fuel plants is accomplished using a systematic technique for the simultaneous screening of all potentially applicable processes. The design task is formulated as an optimization problem with trade‐offs between economic and environmental objectives. A case study is presented to demonstrate the power of the above design methodology for the acid gas emissions from a typical H‐coal liquefaction plant. Results indicate that the optimal desulfurization network that is required to yield environmentally acceptable standards at minimum cost consists of a single mass‐exchange technology, absorption, and employs two different kinds of absorbing agents: a physical solvent, water, and a chemical solvent, hot potassium carbonate.

Notes

Presented at the American Chemical Society I&EC Special Symposium, Emerging Technologies in Hazardous Waste Management IV, Atlanta, Georgia, September 21–23, 1992

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