The Institute of Engineering Thermophysics has made progress in coal-to-natural gas research

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The Institute of Engineering Thermophysics makes progress in coal-to-natural gas research. Author/Source: Date: 2016-04-11 Clicks: 17 Coal-to-natural gas is one of the important ways to achieve efficient and clean utilization of coal in China, and it can also enhance the country’s energy security. However, it has faced controversy both domestically and internationally due to issues such as low energy efficiency, high water consumption, and high initial investment costs. The Laboratory of Distributed Energy Supply and Renewable Energy at the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has studied coal-to-natural gas systems, including energy consumption throughout their life cycle, greenhouse gas emissions, and new types of coal-to-gas systems. The relevant research findings were published in the 2016 issue No. 3 of the Nature journal series Nature Climate Change (Li et al., Nature Climate Change 6, 220–221(2016) doi:10.1038/nclimate2887). 　　International studies indicate that the greenhouse gas emissions over the entire life cycle of coal-to-gas production are 4 times those of conventional coal-fired power generation, and 7 times those of natural gas combined cycle power generation. Research findings from the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics show that, given the current level of coal-to-gas technology (with efficiencies of only 50–55%), the greenhouse gas emissions over its entire life cycle are 1.35–1.60 times those of coal-fired power generation, and 2.6–3.3 times those of natural gas combined cycle systems. Further research shows that coal-to-gas systems based on new gasification technologies can achieve an efficiency of 60-65%, with lifetime energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions reaching levels even lower than those of current coal-fired power generation technologies. Since coal-to-gas systems remain sources of high-concentration CO2 emissions, the energy required for CO2 capture in such systems is significantly lower than that needed for capture after combustion in traditional coal-fired power plants. If coal-to-gas technology is combined with carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technologies, the greenhouse gas emissions over the entire life cycle will be lower than those associated with coal power plus CCS technology. 　　At present, faced with the three critical requirements of efficient energy use, environmental protection, and energy security, China urgently needs to develop innovative coal chemical utilization technologies to promote the sustainable development of its energy sector; the relevant research findings from the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics will hold significant guiding value.