High-pressure coal fuel processor development

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6542748· OSTI ID:6542748

Greenhalgh, M L ^[1]

---

1. Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria, IL (United States)

Caterpillar shares DOE/METC interest in demonstrating the technology required to displace petroleum-based engine fuels with various forms of low cost coal. Current DOE/METC programs on mild gasification and coal-water-slurries are addressing two approaches to this end. Engine and fuel processor system concept studies by Caterpillar have identified a third, potentially promising, option. This option includes high-pressure fuel processing of run-of-the-mine coal and direct injection of the resulting low-Btu gas stream into an ignition assisted, high compression ratio diesel engine. The compactness and predicted efficiency of the system make it suitable for application to line-haul railroad locomotives. Two overall conclusions resulted from Task 1. First direct injected, ignition assisted Diesel cycle engine combustion systems can be suitably modified to efficiently utilize low-Btu gas fuels. Second, high pressure gasification of selected run-of-the-mine coals in batch-loaded fuel processors is feasible. These two findings, taken together, significantly reduce the perceived technical risk associated with the further development of the proposed coal gas fueled Diesel cycle power plant concept. The significant conclusions from Task 2 were: An engine concept, derived from a Caterpillar 3600 series engine, and a fuel processor concept, based on scaling up a removable-canister configuration from the test rig, appear feasible; and although the results of this concept study are encouraging, further, full-scale component research and development are required before attempting a full-scale integrated system demonstration effort.

• Research Organization: USDOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC), WV (United States); Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-88MC25141
• OSTI ID: 6542748
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/25141-3340; ON: DE93000277
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
DIESEL ENGINES
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
LOW BTU GAS
COMBUSTION
IGNITION
COAL GASIFICATION
EFFICIENCY
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FUEL SLURRIES
LOCOMOTIVES
PROGRESS REPORT
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENGINES
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MIXTURES
OXIDATION
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRAINS
VEHICLES
010404* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification
330102 - Internal Combustion Engines- Diesel
330800 - Emission Control- Alternative Fuels