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Coal liquefaction incentives for scaling up coal liquids

Journal Article · · Combustion; (United States)
OSTI ID:6299881
According to the Electric Power Research Institute, an aggressive development program could result in production of 450,000 bbl/day of liquid fuel from coal by 1990 and 950,000 bbl/day by 1995 by means of the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Mining Co. solvent-refined coal (SRC-II), Hydrocarbon Research Inc. H-Coal, and Exxon Research and Engineering Co. Donor Solvent processes. Although at present, < 10 % of U.S. petroleum liquid fuels production is used for electric power generation, the oil-burning cycling or mid-range duty units cannot be economically converted to other fuels; in 1977, the National Electric Reliability Council predicted that oil use by utilities would increase to 2.4 million bbl/day in 1986. Thus, at $18/bbl, there is a potential utility market of 2.5 million bbl/day in 2000, but at $24/bbl, a market of only 60,000 bbl/day in 1975 dollars, assuming no change in world oil production and price. The techologies involved in these three coal liquefaction processes and the advantages of scale-up via a demonstration unit in between the pilot and pioneer plant stages, as illustrated by the proposed SRC-II demonstration plant are discussed.
Research Organization:
Electric Power Research Institute
OSTI ID:
6299881
Journal Information:
Combustion; (United States), Journal Name: Combustion; (United States) Vol. 50:10; ISSN COMBA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English