Process simulation of the transport gasifier

Abstract

The transport gasifier manufactured by Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) is reportedly capable of economically converting low rank coal (e.g. lignite) to syngas for the production of synthetic chemicals, fuels and energy. However no process simulation of the KBR transport gasifier yet exists in the public domain literature. In this work three alternative process simulation models of the transport gasifier were developed using a commercial process simulator combined with Excel/VBA routines. The first model determined gasification products on the basis of minimum Gibbs energy. The second model used pseudo-equilibrium approach and the third model used kinetic expressions. The simulation models were validated with real process data. The pseudo-equilibrium model was best able to replicate the data with reasonable process assumptions.