Microwave Augmented Reduction Using Hydrogen Enriched Methane

使用富氢甲烷进行微波强化还原

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04698
• 负责人: Pickles, Christopher
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=713904
• 关键词: Microwave; Augmented; Reduction; Using; Hydrogen

The extractive metallurgy industry generates over five percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of the increasing concern for climate change, this industry is moving towards more sustainable operating practices with regards to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. Microwave processing is a relatively new technique, which is being studied for application in mineral processing and metallurgical extraction. In the last decade, it has been shown that microwave heating has a number of potential advantages for heating materials of interest in pyrometallurgical processes, in particular metal oxides. It can provide volumetric, rapid and selective heating and also the electrical energy source can be relatively clean. Additionally in comparison to fossil fuels, the amounts of off--gases, carbon dioxide and dust can be reduced. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a reduction process which can utilize these potential heating characteristics for improved energy efficiency. In the short term, the combination of renewable energy resources with a microwave augmented existing energy source and a more environmentally friendly reductant may be part of a transitional solution. The utilization of natural gas (95% methane) as a reducing agent, which has less of an environmental impact and can also be potentially very reactive, would be advantageous. Renewable energy sources can be utilized to produce the microwaves and to manufacture hydrogen to add to methane. One approach to deal with these environmental issues is to investigate alternative energy sources and reducing agents in order to improve the energy efficiency and to reduce the carbon footprint. In this regard, it is proposed to continue research on the utilization of microwaves for metal extraction and focus on the utilization of methane as a reducing agent for metal oxides. This will involve a three-pronged methodology using the following methane-based reducing agents: (1) essentially pure methane or natural gas, (2) hydrogen-enriched methane or natural gas (HENG) and (3) reactive carbon/adsorbed carbon produced from the decomposition of methane. Microwave heating alone is relatively inefficient due to the energy losses during the conversion of electricity to microwaves in the magnetron. It is proposed to combine microwaves with a conventional heating source, in a microwave augmented heating process with an overall improved efficiency. Also, microwaves may catalyze the decomposition of methane. Thus, the overall objective of this research is to combine the relatively new microwave heating technology together with the somewhat underutilized potential of methane as a reducing agent and in particular produce carbon in a very reactive form. This arrangement could lead to improved energy efficiencies, significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced impact of pyrometallurgical processes on the environment. This would of benefit to both the industry and society.

采掘冶金行业产生的占温室气体排放量的5％以上。由于对气候变化的关注日益关注，该行业正在朝着能源效率和环境管理方面的更可持续的操作实践迈进。微波处理是一种相对较新的技术，正在研究用于矿物加工和冶金提取。在过去的十年中，已经表明，微波加热在高温透明过程中，尤其是金属氧化物中有许多潜在的优势。它可以提供容量，快速和选择性的加热，并且电能源也相对干净。此外，与化石燃料相比，可以减少关闭量，二氧化碳和灰尘的量。因此，开发一个可以利用这些潜在的加热特性来提高能源效率的还原过程将是有利的。在短期内，可再生能源资源与微波炉的结合增加了现有的现有能源和更环保的还原剂可能是过渡解决方案的一部分。天然气（95％甲烷）作为还原剂的利用（95％甲烷）具有较小的环境影响，也可能具有反应性，这将是有利的。可再生能源可用于生产微波并生产氢以添加到甲烷中。 解决这些环境问题的一种方法是调查替代能源和减少代理，以提高能源效率并减少碳足迹。在这方面，建议继续研究微波用于金属提取的利用，并专注于将甲烷作为金属氧化物的还原剂的利用。这将涉及使用以下基于甲烷的还原剂的三管方向方法：（1）基本上是纯甲烷或天然气，（2）富含氢的甲烷或天然气（Heng）和（3）由甲烷分解产生的反应性碳/吸附的碳。由于在电力转换为磁控管中的微波炉中的能量损失，仅微波加热相对效率低下。提议将微波与常规加热源相结合，并在微波炉增强的加热过程中，并总体提高效率。同样，微波可能催化甲烷的分解。因此，这项研究的总体目的是将相对较新的微波加热技术与甲烷作为还原剂的利用不足的潜力相结合，尤其是以非常反应性的形式产生碳。这种布置可能会提高能源效率，大大减少温室气体的排放，并降低了载火于环境过程对环境的影响。这将对行业和社会有利。