Direct CO2-Methanation of flue gas emitted by conventional power plants

The catalytic conversion of CO2 with H2 into CH4 is possible by the Sabatier reaction CO2+4H2→CH4+2H2O. Using excess energy from renewable electricity generation, this approach offers an opportunity for recycling of CO2 as synthetic natural gas. In a new concept, we investigate the performance of the Sabatier reaction as direct methanation of flue gas, emitted by conventional power plants. We investigate the Sabatier process in an upscaled system, with a maximum input flow rate of 45 Nm3/h Gas. The performance is investigated in a simulated composition of flue gas and under real conditions at a lignite power plant in Schwarze Pumpe, Brandenburg, Germany. We can achieve a CO2-conversion of up to 90%, with approx. 100% selectivity towards CH4. Under flue gas conditions and at a certain limit of gas flow the system is operated at an autothermal running modus, a steady state equilibrium of exothermic heat production and thermal flow that needs neither external annealing nor cooling.