Syngas into Fuel
Technology Description:
The Ohio State University has developed an iron-based material and process for converting syngas—a synthetic gas mixture—into electricity, H2, and/or liquid fuel with zero CO2 emissions. Traditional carbon capture methods use chemical solvents or special membranes to separate CO2 from the gas exhaust from coal-fired power plants. Ohio State's technology uses an iron-based oxygen carrier to generate CO2 and H2 from syngas in separate, pure product streams by means of a circulating bed reactor configuration. The end products of the system are H2, electricity, and/or liquid fuel, all of which are useful sources of power that can come from coal or syngas derived from biomass. Ohio State is developing a high-pressure pilot-scale unit to demonstrate this process at the National Carbon Capture Center.
Potential Impact:
If successful, Ohio State's chemical looping process would enable significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while helping position the U.S. as the leader in advanced carbon capture technologies.
Security:
Enabling continued use of domestic coal for electricity generation will preserve the stability of the electric grid.
Environment:
Carbon capture technology could prevent more than 800 million tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere each year.
Economy:
Improving the cost-effectiveness of carbon capture methods will minimize added costs to homeowners and businesses using electricity generated by coal-fired power plants for the foreseeable future.
Contact
ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Eric Rohlfing
Project Contact:
Prof. Liang-Shih Fan
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
fan.1@osu.edu
Partners
Clear Skies Consulting
PSRI
CONSOL Energy, Inc.
Related Projects
Release Date:
10/26/2009