STTR Phase I: Development of Modular Reactors to Convert Methane to Alcohols at Low Temperatures

STTR 第一阶段：开发在低温下将甲烷转化为醇的模块化反应器

• 批准号: 2151256
• 负责人: Subhash Singhal
• 金额: $ 25.6万
• 依托单位: SOFI TEC LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2151256&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Development; Modular; Reactors

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to develop affordable and efficient new chemical processes for the conversion of natural gas to alcohols, which will reduce the emissions of methane and help mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The affordable capture and conversion of methane emissions to alcohols is expected to have environmental benefit and provide a commercially valuable market that can be developed for remote areas where flaring and venting of methane occurs. The direct release or flaring of methane results in greenhouse gas emissions. The conversion of as little as 10% of the currently-flared methane emissions can satisfy the global methanol demand which is an estimated $55 billion/year industry. A recent Global Methane Assessment showed that human-caused methane emissions can be reduced by close to 45% in this decade. This project will have an impact in areas where the highest methane emissions occur, such as oil and gas producing regions. This STTR Phase I Project develops a high-risk technology based on modular reactors that utilize novel electrodes and cell architecture to directly capture and convert methane to alcohols and hydrogen. Using newly developed methods, the project will demonstrate the feasibility of affordably converting methane to value-added fuels at atmospheric pressure and low temperatures in the field. The proposed technology focuses on the application of process intensification at modular-equipment scales suitable for deployment and transport between remote locations where gas is being vented or flared. The modular reactors are compact, integrated, and transportable. They have a large turndown ratio and can operate continuously under varying feed rates and gas compositions. These reactors have the potential to convert a high fraction of methane, lessening the requirements for outgassing capture. This project will use advanced additive manufacturing, electrochemical modeling, gas sensing, and process scale up.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发可负担得起的、高效的新化学工艺，将天然气转化为酒精，这将减少甲烷的排放，并有助于减少二氧化碳的排放。可负担得起的甲烷捕获和转化为酒精的方法预计将带来环境效益，并为发生甲烷燃烧和排放的偏远地区提供一个具有商业价值的市场。甲烷的直接释放或燃烧导致温室气体排放。只要将目前燃烧的甲烷排放的10%转化为甲醇，就可以满足全球甲醇需求，这是一个估计价值550亿美元/年的行业。最近的一项全球甲烷评估显示，在这十年中，人类造成的甲烷排放量可以减少近45%。该项目将对甲烷排放量最高的地区产生影响，如石油和天然气产区。STTR第一阶段项目开发了一种基于模块化反应器的高风险技术，该技术利用新型电极和电池结构直接捕获甲烷并将其转化为醇和氢。使用新开发的方法，该项目将证明在大气压和低温下将甲烷经济地转化为增值燃料的可行性。拟议的技术侧重于在模块化设备规模上应用过程强化，适用于在气体排放或燃烧的偏远地区之间部署和运输。模块化反应堆结构紧凑，集成化，便于运输。它们具有大的降压比，可以在不同的进料速率和气体成分下连续运行。这些反应器有潜力转化大量的甲烷，减少了对脱气捕获的要求。该项目将采用先进的增材制造、电化学建模、气体传感和工艺放大。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。