401
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_12
Petcoke Gasification: Challenges
and Future Prospects
Jyoti Prasad Chakraborty and Rishikesh Kumar Singh
Abstract Gasification is a mature technology to convert carbonaceous materials
into valuable chemicals, fuel, or power. The technology of coal gasification is wellestablished; however, it has some inherent drawbacks like high ash content in Indian
coal, slagging, and tar formation. Biomass gasification is a promising area, though
sustainable and economic supply of raw material, low calorific value, high moisture
content, etc. remain challenging issues. On the other hand, there is a considerable
production of petcoke from different refineries, which may be used for different
purposes including gasification. Petcoke is rich in carbon; hence, it will yield high
concentration of syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) in the total
gaseous product. This syngas can be used to generate electricity or produce liquid
fuels or chemicals. In this chapter, petcoke gasification technology and the associated issues and challenges are discussed. Some novel ideas as well as future prospects are also discussed.
Keywords Petcoke · Gasification · Fixed bed gasification · Entrained flow gasifier
· Bubbling fluidized bed gasifiers · Downdraft gasifiers
1 Introduction
Gasification of hydrocarbon materials is a promising thermochemical technology
where the carbonaceous material is heated at around 700–1200 °C in the presence
of limited supply of air or oxygen. The product consists mainly of hydrogen and
carbon monoxide, and this mixture is popularly known as syngas. There may be
numerous benefits of using this syngas. The thermal energy of syngas may be utilized to produce electricity by using a turbine. Using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, this
J. P. Chakraborty (*)
Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU),
Varanasi, India
e-mail: jpc.che@iitbhu.ac.in
R. K. Singh
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU),
Varanasi, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_12
Petcoke Gasification: Challenges
and Future Prospects
Jyoti Prasad Chakraborty and Rishikesh Kumar Singh
Abstract Gasification is a mature technology to convert carbonaceous materials
into valuable chemicals, fuel, or power. The technology of coal gasification is wellestablished; however, it has some inherent drawbacks like high ash content in Indian
coal, slagging, and tar formation. Biomass gasification is a promising area, though
sustainable and economic supply of raw material, low calorific value, high moisture
content, etc. remain challenging issues. On the other hand, there is a considerable
production of petcoke from different refineries, which may be used for different
purposes including gasification. Petcoke is rich in carbon; hence, it will yield high
concentration of syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) in the total
gaseous product. This syngas can be used to generate electricity or produce liquid
fuels or chemicals. In this chapter, petcoke gasification technology and the associated issues and challenges are discussed. Some novel ideas as well as future prospects are also discussed.
Keywords Petcoke · Gasification · Fixed bed gasification · Entrained flow gasifier
· Bubbling fluidized bed gasifiers · Downdraft gasifiers
1 Introduction
Gasification of hydrocarbon materials is a promising thermochemical technology
where the carbonaceous material is heated at around 700–1200 °C in the presence
of limited supply of air or oxygen. The product consists mainly of hydrogen and
carbon monoxide, and this mixture is popularly known as syngas. There may be
numerous benefits of using this syngas. The thermal energy of syngas may be utilized to produce electricity by using a turbine. Using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, this
J. P. Chakraborty (*)
Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU),
Varanasi, India
e-mail: jpc.che@iitbhu.ac.in
R. K. Singh
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU),
Varanasi, India