TCG Global LLC (TCG) designs, builds, and sells gasification plants. Moreover, we convert any carbon-containing feedstock such as biomass, coal, petroleum coke, or municipal solid waste into Syngas. This primarily consists of hydrogen (H) and carbon monoxide (CO). The Syngas produced by this gasification process results in a clean, dry, flexible fuel. It can (1) burn to create heat and electricity and (2) pass through any of several different catalysts to produce fluids such as alcohols and transportation fuels, including clean-burning diesel. Additionally, it can (3) supply pure hydrogen gas for multiple applications.
We officially debuted in 2010. After our debut, we sought to further the commercialization of the TCG patented gasification technology. The company uses the technology use rights of Wiley Engineering, Inc. – founded in 1981. Moreover, this company provided almost 40 years of mining consulting services. They additionally work on projects in the U.S. and internationally with a specialization in coal and clean coal technology. Most recently, its focus consists of developing and constructing gasification plants. Red Lion Bio-Energy, Toledo, Ohio purchased the initial plant constructed by Wiley in 2007.
TCG Global, LLC uses patents, and pending patents of Thermo Technologies, LLC exclusively licensed to Thermo Conversions, LLC. Therefore under agreement, this provides rights to TCG Global, LLC to design, build, own, operate, and market gasification plants using the technology.
A TCG PROCESS SCHEMATIC EXAMPLE
GASIFICATION
WHAT IS GASIFICATION?
To achieve TCG’s gasification, we use heat, pressure, and the injection of ionized water. C + H2O = CO + H2 serves as its basic chemical reaction. The process begins in a heated, oxygen-starved environment (known as the pyrolysis chamber). As a result, it drives off moisture and volatile gases contained in the feedstock. After that, pyrolysis produces carbon char and ash moves into a separate, externally heated gasification reactor. This converts the solid carbon molecule into a gaseous state. Next, we inject ionized water in a process known as steam reformation. This creates a water shift reaction to produce Syngas. The hot Syngas is water quenched and cleansed of its impurities in a proprietary, ionized water treatment system. Subsequently, it delivers a clean, dry Syngas with no liquid discharge from the plant operation.
Historical example of a typical gasification process.
The TCG process does not serve as a typical gasification process. Normally, this would require the injection of oxygen for the reaction: 2C + O2 + H2O = CO + H2 + CO2. Internal feedstock combustion would require heat presented by C + O2 = CO2. Furthermore, conventional gasification plants produce high amounts of CO2 in their internal combustion processes. The externally heated TCG process actually reduces CO2 through the following reaction: CO2 + C = 2CO. Therefore, the process does not produce harmful combustion by-products.
History Of Gasification
Over a hundred years ago, England and the United States used the gasification of coal. The coal produced the countries’ “town gas” to light city streets. Coal literally fueled the German war effort by coal gasification during World War II. Likewise, over 40% of South African motor fuel derives from coal gasification as well as all their aviation fuel. Moreover, major suppliers of gasification technology include Sasol Lurgi, GE, Conoco-Phillips, and Shell with dozens of large, expensive plants operating worldwide. In the U.S. a large gasification plant produces synthetic natural gas in North Dakota. In addition, two integrated combined cycle (IGCC) demonstration plants generate electricity. One operates in Florida and the other in Indiana. Eastman Chemical’s coal gasification plant located in Tennessee once produced all Kodak film for the photography industry. It operated successfully for over 25 years. Moreover, it continues to produce methanol, plastics, and other products for the chemical industry.
What Makes Gasification Of Coal Important?
- Coal serves as an abundant domestic and worldwide energy resource
- It has highest energy per unit of volume of any fossil fuel
- Abandoning the use of coal for power generation proposes an unrealistic solution for the world’s future
- Clean coal technology to produce power without emissions represents the future of economic power generation
- TCG’s gasification process provides for “Pollution prevention versus pollution control”
- Using local resources in a clean and efficient manner serves as a key factor in keeping power costs affordable
- The pricing of coal is relatively stable compared to other forms of energy
- Supports an industry vital to the economic stability of many regions
- Compelling economics when converting to clean energy products
- TCG demonstrates that the technology exists to use coal with potentially zero CO2, Sulfur, NOx and Mercury emissions
The Revolution Of TCG Gasification
TCG technology provides many advantages over competing gasification systems:
- High efficiency – 89% demonstrated Btu conversion ratios.
- Low emissions footprint – both zero liquid discharge and air emissions capability.
- Flexible feedstock – any carbon-containing material from biomass to coal to MSW.
- Flexible output – electricity, drop-in transportation fuels, alcohols, and/or hydrogen.
- Low-cost construction – typically half the cost of competing solutions.
- Rapid deployment – 12 to 24 months, typically half the time of competing solutions.
- Small footprint – deployable to remote sites, can fit within many established plant sites.
- Low operating costs – high availability rates, low-cost parts and maintenance.
EMISSIONS REDUCTION
WHAT IS EMISSIONS REDUCTION?
The emission reduction unit (ERU) serves as an emissions unit issued under a Joint Implementation project in terms of the Kyoto Protocol. An ERU represents a reduction of greenhouse gases under the Joint Implementation mechanism. Additionally, it represents one tonne of CO2 equivalent reduced.[1]
To allow comparison between the different effects of gases on the environment, scientists define multipliers for gases. This compares their greenhouse potency (global warming potential) relative to that of CO2.
One example of a Joint Implementation project resulting in an emission reduction unit is the production of biogases by landfill sites. These gases consist of mainly methane which escapes to the atmosphere if not collected. We deal with methane because it has a 100-year global warming potential multiplier of 25[2] compared to CO2 (i.e. has 25 times the greenhouse potency). Typically, resulting combustion accompanies the collection of methane. Burning one tonne of methane produces nearly 3 tonnes of CO2, thus reducing its greenhouse effect by (25-3=22) ERU.
TCG GASIFICATION FEATURES A UNIQUE, LOW EMISSIONS FOOTPRINT
- Syngas exits the gasification process clean and cool.
- The gasifier fully uses or recycles the process water so that the facility has zero liquid discharge.
- The gasifier uses its own Syngas output to fire the burner. As a result, emissions reduce compared to burning natural gas.
- The gasifier can capture and recycle flue gas, including carbon dioxide (CO2), from the external burners. Therefore, this allows for zero air emission capability.
- Due to its externally heated design, the gasifier could be optionally heated using electricity. Plus, this configuration would produce zero emissions.
- Ash recovered from the system further processes to recover elements contained in the ash. This ash can also be used in production of cement or used as a fertilizer. Additionally, a portion of the ash also recovers as a bio-char and used as a soil amendment. This provides for carbon capture and sequestration in addition to improved crop performance.
OVERVIEW OF DESIGN ADVANTAGES OF EMISSIONS CONTROL
Emissions Control Diagram
The TCG Global technology focuses on the prevention of harmful pollution from carbon utilization. We focus on this rather than removing pollution resulting from conventional combustion. Since the feedstock heats externally, its combustion by-products do not release into the atmosphere and thus not present in the Syngas produced. All feedstock processes in an enclosed and sealed reactor. As a result, this allows contaminants to be efficiently captured and disposed of in ash collectors or through water scrubbing processes. Pollutants such as sulfur and SOx, arsenic, and mercury typically present in many feedstocks do not release into the atmosphere in this design. If part of a combustion-centric process, they would.
Source: TCG Global LLC.
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