Using hydrogen‐rich multifuel to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO₂ emission for high‐energy furnace

Abstract

The waste gas generated in petrochemical manufacturing processes, such as the catalytic reforming, catalytic cracking, and other petrochemical units contains complex components, which are worth recovery and reuse. In this research, replacing the natural gas (NG) partially with a hydrogen-rich multifuel (MG) is tested onsite to power a full-scale furnace (70% loading) used in a distillation operation. When the NG is mixed with MG, the mixture contains 30-80% H 2 (average 60%), and its thermal NO x is the dominant NO x formation mechanism. The formation of nitrogen oxides increases by 42.0-42.1 mL/m 3 (ppmv), thus reducing 2.2 3 10 3 tons of annual CO 2 production or achieving savings of 5.7-5.9 3 10 3 m 3 /yr NG usage. However, if MG replaces NG as the major fuel gas, the prompt NO x is the dominant NO x formation mechanism. Therefore, the MG can be used as a low-cost alternative to achieve savings on fuel cost and reduce CO 2 emission.

Improving furnace and boiler cost‐effectiveness and CO2 emission by adjusting excess air

“…These methods include strengthening management, diversifying energy sources, and upgrading obsolete equipment to improve energy utilization and waste energy recovery efficiencies [3, 4]. For example, using recovered waste iron dust particles will save the consumption of iron ore [5]; replacing natural gas partially with the recovered blast furnace waste gas that contains 21% of carbon monoxide and 78% nitrogen will reduce the consumption of natural gas [3, 4]; and reusing the recovered tail gas from petrochemical process (e.g., catalyst recombination, and heavy oil cracking) to replace natural gas or petro fuel will save energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission [6, 7, 8].…”