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.

这种小型企业技术转移（STTR）I期项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发负担得起，有效的新化学过程，以将天然气转化为酒精，这将减少甲烷的排放并帮助减轻二氧化碳（CO2）排放。 预计甲烷排放到酒精的负担得起的捕获和转换有望具有环境利益，并提供商业上有价值的市场，该市场可以在发生甲烷发泄和发泄的偏远地区开发。 甲烷的直接释放或爆炸会导致温室气体排放。当前利用的甲烷排放量的10％的转换可以满足全球甲醇需求，估计为550亿美元/年。最近的全球甲烷评估表明，在这十年中，被人为引起的甲烷排放量可以降低近45％。该项目将在甲烷排放最高的地区（例如石油和天然气生产地区）产生影响。 该STTR I期项目基于模块化反应器开发高危技术，该技术利用新型电极和细胞结构直接捕获并将甲烷转化为醇和氢。 使用新开发的方法，该项目将证明在大气压和田间低温下将甲烷转化为增值燃料的可行性。拟议的技术着重于在模块化设备量表上应用工艺强化的应用，适合于在偏远地区进行发泄或发泄的偏远位置的部署和运输。模块化反应器是紧凑，集成和可运输的。它们的倒车比率很高，并且可以在不同的进料速率和气体组成下连续运行。这些反应堆有可能转换高甲烷的大部分，从而减少了对捕获量的要求。该项目将使用先进的添加剂制造，电化学建模，汽油传感和过程规模。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响评估标准通过评估来获得支持的。