Best substitute for petrol may be petrol
The calorific values of the fuels being studied were compared. Petrol is the most efficient, followed by methane in the form of LGN, then methanol and liquid hydrogen. Hydrogen is attractive only on a weight basis, but the storage problems are serious for its liquefied state. Liquid methane requires the same costly storage equipment as hydrogen, making it prohibitive for road vehicles. Methanol is a clean burning fuel and manufacturing processes are being developed. Tests are being sponsored by the Office of Coal Research and the American Gas Association and large-scale commercial plants could be capable of being onstream by 1978. Synthetic crude oil has been manufactured in Sasol, South Africa since 1955. The technique is based on the Fischer-Tropsch process for synthesizing oil from coal, not only making synthetic petrol from coal but also the full range of products normally derived from crude oil. (MCW)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-020473
- OSTI ID:
- 4331489
- Journal Information:
- New Sci., v. 61, no. 882, pp. 203-205, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Sasol: South Africa's oil from coal story--background for environmental assessment. Final report Jul-Aug 79
Future availability of catalyst metals for synfuel processes. Final report