The Carnol process system for CO{sub 2} mitigation and methanol production

The feasibility of an alternative CO{sub 2} mitigation system and a methanol production process is investigated. The Carnol system has three components: (1) a coal-fired power plant supplying flue gas CO{sub 2}, (2) the Carnol process which converts the CO{sub 2} with H{sub 2} from natural gas to methanol, (3) use of methanol as a fuel component in the automotive sector. For the methanol production process alone, up to 100% CO{sub 2} emission reduction can be achieved; for the entire system, up to 65% CO{sub 2} emission reduction can be obtained. The Carnol system is technically feasible and economically competitive with alternative CO{sub 2}-disposal systems for coal-fired power plants. The Carnol process is estimated to be economically attractive compared to the current market price of methanol, especially if credit can be taken for carbon as a marketable coproduct