Low/medium-Btu coal-gasification assessment of central plant for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6083425

The objective of this study is to assess the technical and economic feasibility of producing, distributing, selling, and using coal gas for industrial applications in Philadelphia. From the 15 sites considered, the Philadelphia Gas Works and Riverside sites were considered excellent candidates. Early in the gasifier selection study it was decided that the level of risk associated with the gasification process should be minimal. It was therefore determined that the process should be selected from those commercially proven. The following processes were considered: Lurgi, KT, Winkler, and Wellman-Galusha. A retrofit study was carried out to assess the impact on users having to switch from oil or natural gas to low or medium Btu gas. Medium Btu gas was selected in order to service many users with gas having generally useful combustion characteristics. Between the Lurgi and KT processes (which are competitive in terms of capital costs), the KT process shows a lower operating cost and is more flexible in terms of coal feed selection. In addition, the Lurgi (and the Galusha) gasifiers produce tars, phenols, and ammonia. Effective removal of these by-produces adds to the complexity and operating inconvenience of the overall process. Therefore, the KT process (which is unique in its ability to gasify many coals) was selected. The potential range of gas costs compares favorably with No. 6 fuel oil as an energy source. Although there exists an element of risk and uncertainty which must be bounded carefully during the next phase of the study, there also exists some potential for reducing the rather conservative cost estimate which represents the high case.

• Research Organization: Philadelphia Gas Works, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG01-79RA20222
• OSTI ID: 6083425
• Report Number(s): DOE/RA/20222-2; ON: DE81028355
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
CENTRAL REGION
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL GASIFICATION PLANTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SUPPLIES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INTERMEDIATE BTU GAS
KOPPERS-TOTZEK PROCESS
LOW BTU GAS
LURGI PROCESS
MARKET
NORTH AMERICA
PENNSYLVANIA
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SITE SELECTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
WELLMAN-GALUSHA PROCESS
WINKLER PROCESS