Gasoline Production from Wood Chips (Gasification)

The process is divided in 3 main areas: (1) syngas synthesis and processing; (2) methanol and DME production; (3) Gasoline production and purification.

Syngas Synthesis and Processing.  Woodchips are dried and particle size is reduced.  After treatment, particles are conveyed to the gasification area, where dry wood and steam are converted to syngas, char, and ash.  The syngas produced is then routed to the Tar Reformer, a catalytic reactor that converts methane, tars and other hydrocarbons to additional CO and H2.  Syngas undergoes a series of purification and preparation processes for methanol synthesis, such as cooling, quenching, compression, and an amine-based acid gas removal (AGR).  Then, the syngas stream is split into two: a small bypass proceeds to a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system where hydrogen is produced; the main stream is directed to methanol synthesis.

Methanol and DME production.  Syngas incoming from the AGR is mixed with the reactor’s recycling stream and produces methanol.  Unreacted syngas is recycled and the main product proceeds to the Crude Methanol Column, where methanol is separated from dissolved gases and routed to the DME synthesis area.  Methanol is vaporized, superheated and then fed to a reactor, in which a dehydration reaction occurs to yield DME.

Gasoline production and purification.  DME and hydrogen produced in the PSA are fed to a series of reactors.  They are converted to high-octane gasoline, which is routed to purification via distillation.  C3 and C4 hydrocarbons are removed and recycled, and the High Octane Gasoline product is obtained.