Power-to-gas process: development of a catalytic reactor concept

风能和太阳能光伏能源是加拿大增长最快的电力来源。例如，2016年，加拿大的风力发电装机容量约为12，000 MW（占电力需求的6%）。然而，其电力供应与能源需求不一致。在这种情况下，能源储存对于弥合时间和地理差距变得越来越重要。 电力制气工艺（P2 G）是一种很有前途的技术，其中电能被转化为化学能（甲烷）并储存在天然气电网中。因此，可以充分利用现有的天然气分配基础设施和成熟的终端使用技术。 在P2 G过程中，过量的电力通过水电解转化为氢气，随后用捕获的CO2转化（例如，从沼气厂）到甲烷。P2 G工艺的主要挑战与后一步骤有关-将H2和CO2催化转化为CH 4。拟议的NSERC CRD项目的目的是开发一种小规模的 反应器概念，可集成到沼气升级设施，由瑞必科吸附公司制造。该项目将（1）研究产生高CO2转化率和CH 4选择性的可用催化剂，（2）确定相应的动力学参数，以及（3）设计和测试类似于催化热交换/反应器的新原型反应器， 交替的反应性和非反应性通道。 通过开发可靠的CO2甲烷化阶段，可以建造加拿大首个P2 G中试工厂，这将使瑞必科公司成为世界上最大的二氧化碳甲烷化生产商。在行业的最前沿。额外的好处包括获得基础知识与技术开发相结合的过程，可以显着塑造储能市场。

Wind and solar photovoltaic energy are the fastest growing sources of electricity in Canada. For example, in 2016 the installed wind power in Canada was ~12,000 MW (6% of the electricity demand). However, its electricity supply is not aligned with the energy demand. In this context, energy storage becomes more and more important to bridge temporal and geographical gaps. The Power-to-Gas process (P2G) is a promising technology in which electrical energy is converted into chemical energy (methane) and stored in the natural gas grid. Thus, the already existing gas distribution infrastructure and mature end-use technology can be fully utilized. Within the P2G process, excess electricity is converted to hydrogen via water electrolysis and subsequently converted with captured CO2 (e.g., from biogas plant) to methane. The main challenges in the P2G process are related to the later step - the catalytic conversion of H2 and CO2 to CH4. The aim of proposed NSERC CRD project is the development of a small-scale reactor concept that can be integrated into a Biogas upgrading facility, which are manufactured by Xebec Adsorption Inc. This project will (1) investigate available catalysts that yield high CO2 conversion and CH4 selectivites, (2) determine the corresponding kinetic parameters and(3) design and test a new prototype reactor that resemble a catalytic heat exchange/reactor with alternate reactive and non-reactive channels. By developing a reliable CO2 methanation stage, the first-of-its-kind Canadian P2G pilot plant can be built, which would place Xebec Inc. at the forefront of the industry. Additional benefit include the gain of fundamental knowledge combined with technology development for a process that can significantly shape the energy storage market.