Abstract: A natural gas having steam and carbon dioxide added thereto is supplied into a reaction tube of a reformer provided with the reaction tube and a combustion radiation section for heating the reaction tube by combustion of a fuel so as to carry out a reaction between the hydrocarbon contained in the natural gas and the steam added to the natural gas, thereby forming a synthetic gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Then, the synthetic gas is subjected to a reaction in the presence of a methanol synthesizing catalyst. A crude methanol obtained is subjected to a gas-liquid separation. Further, a liquid crude methanol separated in the separation is distilled. In the particular methanol manufacturing process, a part of the purge gas obtained in the separation is recycled into the natural gas having steam and carbon dioxide added thereto in advance.

Abstract: A method of converting a plastic waste into oil by decomposing the plastic waste by a reaction using water in a supercritical or near supercritical region as a reaction medium. In this method, the reaction is conducted by using a tubular continuous reactor. The present invention further provides an apparatus therefor. Moreover, the present invention provides a method of converting a plastic waste into oil by conducting the reaction after hydrogen chloride is removed by performing the pyrolysis of the plastic waste in the case that the plastic waste contain chlorine. The present invention further provides an apparatus for performing this method.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide comprises steps of removing only hydrogen sulfide from a natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide by permitting the natural gas to pass through a hydrogen sulfide-removing device filled with a hydrogen sulfide absorbent, adding carbon dioxide and steam to the natural gas which the hydrogen sulfide has been removed to prepare a mixed gas, and feeding the mixed gas into a reaction tube of a reformer, thereby permitting mainly a steam reforming reaction to take place in the mixed gas. This method enables hydrogen sulfide in natural gas to be removed while permitting the carbon dioxide of natural gas to be effectively utilized, thereby reducing the quantity of carbon dioxide to be added to the natural gas to be transferred to the reformer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a synthesis gas, which makes use of a synthesis plant comprising a reformer having a steam reforming reaction tube, a combustion radiation portion provided around the reaction tube, for heating the reaction tube, and a convection portion communicating the combustion radiation portion. A steam-containing natural gas is prepared by adding stream to a natural gas. The steam-containing natural gas is preheated by passing the natural gas through a convection portion of reformer, the natural gas preheated being subsequently fed to the reaction tube. After being preheated in the convection portion, carbon dioxide is fed to the reaction tube, thereby producing a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a synthesis gas, which makes it possible to procure CO2 inside a synthesis gas-manufacturing plant utilizing the Fisher-Tropsch reaction system, thereby enabling the synthesis gas to be cheaply manufactured by way of the Fisher-Tropsch reaction system without being restricted by the location of CO2 gas source such as an ammonia plant, the synthesis gas comprising a molar ratio of H2/CO suited for synthesizing gasoline, kerosene and gas oil. This method comprises the steps of, feeding a steam-mixed natural gas to a reformer provided with a combustion radiation portion for burning a fuel, the reformer being heated by the combustion radiation portion, recovering carbon dioxide from a combustion exhaust gas generated at the combustion radiation portion, and adding the carbon dioxide to the steam-mixed natural gas at a location on an upstream side of the reformer.

Abstract: A method of converting a plastic waste into oil by decomposing the plastic waste by a reaction using water in a supercritical or near supercritical region as a reaction medium. In this method, the reaction is conducted by using a tubular continuous reactor. The present invention further provides an apparatus therefor. Moreover, the present invention provides a method of converting a plastic waste into oil by conducting the reaction after hydrogen chloride is removed by performing the pyrolysis of the plastic waste in the case that the plastic waste contain chlorine. The present invention further provides an apparatus for performing this method.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for power generation, by which high-efficiency power generation is achieved by utilizing a boiler-oriented fuel such as inexpensive coal, heavy oil and waste plastic, and by further utilizing a gas-turbine-oriented fuel in some cases, without exerting bad effects on the environment, at low equipment cost. In the apparatus, first, the boiler-oriented fuel is separated into a distillate and a residue by partial processing. The distillate (in some cases, with a gas-turbine-oriented fuel) is supplied to a gas turbine to generate electric power. Further, a combustion exhaust gas discharged from the turbine is supplied to a boiler. Then, the residue (in some cases, with a boiler-oriented fuel) is burned to obtain steam. Further, electric power is generated by the steam.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing carbon dioxide out of combustion exhaust gas by scrubbing the exhaust gas with an aqueous solution of monoethanolamine in a scrubber, and regenerating the carbon dioxide-loaded aqueous solution of monoethanolamine in a regenerator. The process is provided with means for replenishing the aqueous solution of monoethanolamine with a stock, aqueous solution containing from about 70% to about 75% by weight of monoethanolamine. By providing a stock, aqueous solution containing from about 70% to about 75% by weight of monoethanolamine, which is injected into the carbon dioxide-loaded aqueous solution of monoethanolamine being transferred from the scrubber to the regenerator, the entire carbon dioxide recovery system is free from flammables, rendering fire-fighting precautions unnecessary.

Abstract: After hydrogenation and desulfurization treatment of raw fuel in the desulfurization unit 1, the product is separated in the acidic gas separator 2 into fuel and a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas, and the hydrogen sulfide-containing gas is subjected to combustion together with air in the catalyst converter 3 thereby converting the hydrogen sulfide completely into sulfur dioxide to give a sulfur dioxide-containing gas, and this sulfur dioxide-containing gas is reacted with limestone powder and air in water in the oxidation and neutralization reactor 4, and the resulting slurry is dehydrated in the gypsum slurry solid/liquid separator 5 and then dried in the gypsum heater 6.

Abstract: A light oil component is mixed with a heavy oil component so that the kinematic viscosity is not higher than 800 centistokes, the light oil component and the heavy oil component are separated from each other after the mixed oil is transported to a power generation apparatus, and power generation is carried out by burning the light oil component by means of a gas turbine in the power generation apparatus and by burning the heavy oil component by means of a boiler in the power generation apparatus.

Abstract: A method and a device for dehydrating a heavy oil wherein an emulsion of water and a heavy oil is mixed in a stirring chamber together with a suitable amount of an emulsion breaker, the mixture is subjected to separation in a two-phase separation tank to a heavy oil-rich component and a water-rich component, the heavy oil-rich component is then fed to a dehydrator of a high voltage charge type in which separation to a dehydrated heavy oil and a water-rich component is effected, the water-rich component fractions supplied from the two-phase separation tank and the dehydrator are mixed in a pipeline, the mixture thus obtained is admixed with an O/W emulsion breaker and then, fed to a stirring chamber and finally separated to a heavy oil-containing component and a heavy oil-free water layer in a second separation chamber.

Abstract: In a combined power generation plant, an exhaust gas boiler (2) consists of a high-pressure reheat type steam system, in which fuel is supplied to this exhaust gas boiler 2, and the supplied fuel undergoes catalytic reaction in combustion catalysis sections (NOx removal sections) 18 and 19 to increase the temperature of exhaust gas, whereby the power generation efficiency is improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for recovering a basic amine compound which comprises the steps of (a) supplying a CO.sub.2 -containing gas to a carbon dioxide absorption unit in which an absorbing solution, which contains a basic amine compound, absorbs carbon dioxide; (b) bringing the gas, from which carbon dioxide has been removed, into vapor-liquid contact with a washing water at a temperature from 20 to 60.degree. C. in an amine recovering unit of a carbon dioxide removal tower, recovering part of the basic amine compound accompanying the gas into the water phase and discharging the gas as an exhaust gas of the carbon dioxide removal tower; and (c) collecting the basic amine compound which remains in the exhaust gas of the carbon dioxide removal tower by passing the exhaust gas pass through a demister at a temperature from 20 to 60.degree. C. The basic amine compound can be recovered efficiently from the gas of the carbon dioxide removal tower by using the above process.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical process for treating a large amount of plastics waste in which thermoplastics, crosslinked plastics, thermosetting plastics or a mixture thereof can be continuously and rapidly degraded and converted into oil without sorting various types of plastics waste. According to this process, powdered plastics obtained by grinding thermoplastics, crosslinked plastics, thermosetting plastics or a mixture thereof is mixed with water to form a slurry, and a dispersing agent such as a water-absorbing resin, a water-soluble polymer or a surface-active agent is added thereto. The resulting mixed slurry is fed to a tubular continuous reactor where the powdered plastics is degraded under reaction conditions causing the water to be in or near its supercritical region. Finally, oil is recovered from the reaction product.

Abstract: In drying coal to be used as fuel for a coal-fired boiler, the coal is dried at a temperature of 80 to 150.degree. C. by using combustion exhaust gas having passed through an air heater for the coal-fired boiler. Moreover, after medium-quality or low-quality coal is heated to a temperature of 300 to 500.degree. C. at a heating rate of not less than 100.degree. C. per minute and then cooled to a temperature of 250.degree. C. or below at a cooling rate of not less than 50.degree. C. per minute, the resulting reformed coal is cooled to a temperature of 70.degree. C. or below and stored for 1 month or more in a state of isolation from the atmosphere. In producing the aforesaid reformed coal, the medium-quality or low-quality coal is heated by using combustion exhaust gas obtained at the outlet of an economizer included in the coal-fired boiler equipment or at the outlet of a denitrator included therein.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for the removal of carbon dioxide present in gases which comprises bringing a CO.sub.2 -containing gas into contact with an aqueous solution containing at least one amine compound of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.8 may be the same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and m is 0 or 1. The method of the present invention makes it possible to remove carbon dioxide efficiently. In particular, since carbon dioxide can be easily desorbed by heating the aqueous solution having absorbed carbon dioxide, the thermal energy required for regeneration of the aqueous solution can be reduced.

Abstract: There are disclosed a method for removing CO.sub.2 from a combustion exhaust gas which comprises the step of bringing the combustion exhaust gas under atmospheric pressure into contact with an aqueous solution of a hindered amine selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-methylaminoethanol, 2-ethylaminoethanol and 2-piperidineethanol; and another method for removing carbon dioxide from a combustion exhaust gas which comprises the step of bringing the combustion exhaust gas under atmospheric pressure into contact with a mixed aqueous solution of 100 parts by weight of an amine compound (X) selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, t-butyldiethanolamine and 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol; and 1-25 parts by weight of an amine compound (Y) selected from the group consisting of piperazine, piperidine, morpholine, glycine, 2-methylaminoethanol, 2-piperidineethanol and 2-ethylaminoethanol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a gasified fuel. The fuel is gasified by partial oxidation of a fuel layer obtained from a raw fuel which contains water and has decreased viscosity. The fuel layer is subjected to partial oxidation by being exposed to oxygen, producing a gasified fuel having a low water content. The separation of the raw fuel into a water layer and a fuel layer can be accelerated by adding an emulsion breaker to the raw fuel or by applying an electric field.

Abstract: A method and a device for dehydrating a heavy oil wherein an emulsion of water and a heavy oil is mixed in a stirring chamber together with a suitable amount of an emulsion breaker, the mixture is subjected to separation in a two-phase separation tank to a heavy oil-rich component and a water-rich component, the heavy oil-rich component is then fed to a dehydrator of a high voltage charge type in which separation to a dehydrated heavy oil and a water-rich component is effected, the water-rich component fractions supplied from the two-phase separation tank and the dehydrator are mixed in a pipeline, the mixture thus obtained is admixed with an O/W emulsion breaker and then, fed to a stirring chamber and finally separated to a heavy oil-containing component and a heavy oil-free water layer in a second separation chamber.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for the removal of carbon dioxide present in gases which comprises bringing a CO.sub.2 -containing gas into contact with an aqueous solution containing at least one amine compound of the general formula ?1! ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.8 may be the same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and m is 0 or 1. The method of the present invention makes it possible to remove carbon dioxide efficiently. In particular, since carbon dioxide can be easily desorbed by heating the aqueous solution having absorbed carbon dioxide, the thermal energy required for regeneration of the aqueous solution can be reduced.