Alternate fuels from coal

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · CHEMTECH; (United States)

OSTI ID:5232340

Mills, G A

The author concludes first that processes for synthetic fuels, especially gas, are now available and operable but expensive. Second, that improvements at pilot plant scale offer improvements but of limited economic advantage, about 15%. Third, that the projected costs for these synthetic fuels are twice or even more of those for natural petroleum. Fourth, that the idealized chemistry of coal to synthetic fuels is such that the processes should not require the very expensive plant investment that accounts for the high projected selling price for synthetic fuels, and finally that ERDA-sponsored research is bringing forth new processes, promising improvements much greater than 15%. Two of these are the catalytic coal gasification and conversion of crude methanol from coal to high octane gasoline. It is doubtful in the absence of national policy considerations, including security or embargo, that present synfuels processes are going to compete economically until year 2000. However, I think we will develop new processes, or make major improvements that can cut costs drastically and thus make synfuels from coal economically.

• Research Organization: Energy Research and Development Administration, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5232340
• Journal Information: CHEMTECH; (United States), Journal Name: CHEMTECH; (United States) Vol. 7:7; ISSN CHTED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
010405 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
ALCOHOLS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL LIQUEFACTION
CRACKING
DECOMPOSITION
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
EVALUATION
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASIFICATION
GASOLINE
HYDROCRACKING
HYDROGENATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
LIQUEFACTION
METHANOL
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM OXIDES
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
PYROLYSIS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
ZINC HALIDE PROCESS