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Title: Commercialization of waste gob gas and methane produced in conjunction with coal mining operations. Final report, August 1992--December 1993

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10160705· OSTI ID:10160705

The primary objectives of the project were to identify and evaluate existing processes for (1) using gas as a feedstock for production of marketable, value-added commodities, and (2) enriching contaminated gas to pipeline quality. The following gas conversion technologies were evaluated: (1) transformation to liquid fuels, (2) manufacture of methanol, (3) synthesis of mixed alcohols, and (4) conversion to ammonia and urea. All of these involved synthesis gas production prior to conversion to the desired end products. Most of the conversion technologies evaluated were found to be mature processes operating at a large scale. A drawback in all of the processes was the need to have a relatively pure feedstock, thereby requiring gas clean-up prior to conversion. Despite this requirement, the conversion technologies were preliminarily found to be marginally economic. However, the prohibitively high investment for a combined gas clean-up/conversion facility required that REI refocus the project to investigation of gas enrichment alternatives. Enrichment of a gas stream with only one contaminant is a relatively straightforward process (depending on the contaminant) using available technology. However, gob gas has a unique nature, being typically composed of from constituents. These components are: methane, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. Each of the four contaminants may be separated from the methane using existing technologies that have varying degrees of complexity and compatibility. However, the operating and cost effectiveness of the combined system is dependent on careful integration of the clean-up processes. REI is pursuing Phase 2 of this project for demonstration of a waste gas enrichment facility using the approach described above. This is expected to result in the validation of the commercial and technical viability of the facility, and the refinement of design parameters.

Research Organization:
Resource Enterprises, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG21-92MC29254
OSTI ID:
10160705
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/29254-3783; ON: DE94004148; BR: AB0520000
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Dec 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English