Chemical Energy from Natural and Synthetic Gas

Commercial development of energy from renewables and nuclear is critical to long-term industry and environmental goals. However, it will take time for them to economically compete with existing fossil fuel energy resources and their infrastructures. Gas fuels play an important role during and beyond this transition away from fossil fuel dominance to a balanced approach to fossil, nuclear, and renewable energies. Chemical Energy from Natural and Synthetic Gas illustrates this point by examining the many roles of natural and synthetic gas in the energy and fuel industry, addressing it as both a "transition" and "end game" fuel. The book describes various types of gaseous fuels and how are they are recovered, purified, and converted to liquid fuels and electricity generation and used for other static and mobile applications. It emphasizes methane, syngas, and hydrogen as fuels, although other volatile hydrocarbons are considered. It also covers storage and transportation infrastructure for natural gas and hydrogen and methods and processes for cleaning and reforming synthetic gas. The book also deals applications, such as the use of natural gas in power production in power plants, engines, turbines, and vehicle needs. - Presents a unified and collective look at gas in the energy and fuel industry, addressing it as both a "transition" and "end game" fuel. - Emphasizes methane, syngas, and hydrogen as fuels. - Covers gas storage and transport infrastructure. - Discusses thermal gasification, gas reforming, processing, purification and upgrading. - Describes biogas and bio-hydrogen production. - Deals with the use of natural gas in power production in power plants, engines, turbines, and vehicle needs.

Yatish T. Shah received his B.S. from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA and M.S. and Sc.D from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. During his close to 50 years of academic experience, he has served as chemical and petroleum engineering department chairman, dean of engineering, chief research officer, provost, visiting scholar, and visiting professor at ten different institutions. He has more than 40 years of experience in energy-related research and development. He has authored six books and over 250 reviews and refereed technical publications in the areas of energy, environmental, and reaction engineering.

Introduction. Natural Gas. Synthesis Gas by Thermal Gasification. Biogas and Biohydrogen Production by Anaerobic Digestion. Hydrothermal Gasification. Gas Reforming. Gas Processing, Purification, and Upgrading. Gas Storage and Transport Infrastructure. Natural and Synthetic Gas for Productions of Liquid Fuels and Their Additives. Gas for Heat, Electricity, and Mobile Applications.