Synthetic fuels from peat gasification

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5872077

Punwani, D V; Weil, S A; Paganessi, J E; Kopstein, M J

US peat resources are estimated to be about 1440 quads. In the contiguous 48 states, peat deposits are generally located in areas with no other significant fossil fuel resources. Therefore, for those areas, peat represents an important source of energy. Since 1976, the Institute of Gas Technology has been working on a peat gasification program jointly funded by the US Department of Energy and the Minnesota Gas Company. Tests in laboratory- and process development unit-scale equipment have proven that conversion of peat to synthetic fuel is technically feasible. Tests have been conducted with peats from Minnesota, North Carolina, and Maine. This paper presents some of the important gasification characteristics of the three peats. A brief description of the IGT PEATGAS Process, and highlights of its economics for converting peat to Substitute Natural Gas (SNG), benzene, and fuel oil are also presented. On the basis of the gasification characteristics, compared to coal, peat is a better raw material from which to make SNG as well as gasoline blending feedstock in that a greater fraction of the energy results in these products and requires milder operating conditions. Also compared to coal, peat gasification permits more flexibility in the relative yields of gas and liquid hydrocarbons. The estimates show that the economics of converting peat (containing 50% moisture) to SNG is competitive with those of converting Eastern coal to SNG.

• Research Organization: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA); Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5872077
• Report Number(s): CONF-790803-55
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
090121 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMISTRY
COAL GASIFICATION
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GASIFICATION
KINETICS
LIQUID FUELS
PEAT
PEATGAS PROCESS
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT UNITS
REACTION KINETICS
RESERVES
RESOURCES
SNG PROCESSES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
YIELDS