Wison Engineering Ltd. has signed a cooperation agreement with a subsidiary in Foster Wheeler’s Global Engineering and Construction Group and Clariant International AG (Clariant) to build a pilot plant to demonstrate Foster Wheeler’s VESTA substitute natural gas (SNG) technology. The pilot plant will be constructed in China and is planned to go on-stream during 2013.

Under this agreement, Wison Engineering will provide engineering and construction services, Foster Wheeler will license the technology, and Clariant will supply the proprietary developed catalyst. The plant will be operated by Wison Engineering. The cooperation agreement also sets out a framework for long-term cooperation to deliver and build methanation plants in China based on VESTA technology.

Foster Wheeler’s VESTA SNG technology is a novel methanation technology to produce SNG from synthesis gas obtained from gasification of either coal or petroleum coke. The VESTA technology is based on once-through operation with no recirculation, avoiding expensive compressors. The technology is based on a maximum operating temperature of 550°C, avoiding any metal dusting formation and enabling simpler reactors to be used. The technology can operate with syngas from any commercial gasification technology. The VESTA technology is designed to be simple and safe to operate and to be implemented at a low total investment cost.

Tags: Wison Engineering Services Co. Ltd.