US plastics industry: role and opportunities for natural gas technologies. Staff report

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5846333

Samsa, M E; Hedman, B A

The report classifies the technical opportunities and challenges facing natural gas technology in the plastics manufacturing market. Market opportunities were identified for gas-fired cogeneration (200-300 MW), vapor compression heat pumps, and, possibly, gas prime movers in plastic resin manufacturing processes. No unique Research and Development opportunities were identified for this heavy-steam-using segment of the industry. Opportunities exist for conventional central thermal fluid systems (CTFS) in many plastic molding and forming operations. The potential is estimated at 2-4 Bcf/yr for this market. Research to improve the potential for CTFS include use of fiber matrix burners to eliminate dual-fuel competition and reduce NOx emissions and investigation of heat pipes to retrofit closed-bore platens now used with electric resistance heaters. Existing gas-fired resin drying equipment may be threatened by new microwave drying systems that offer quick and continuous operation. Refrigerant and desiccant wheel dryers and other gas-based options should be considered to maintain this large gas market.

• Research Organization: Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5846333
• Report Number(s): PB-86-190410/XAB; GRI-86/0096
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030600* -- Natural Gas-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Natural Gas
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320301 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Energy Sources
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COGENERATION
COOLING
DEUS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
INDUSTRY
NATURAL GAS
PLASTICS INDUSTRY
POLYMERIZATION
POWER GENERATION
REFRIGERANTS
STEAM GENERATION
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
WORKING FLUIDS