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Title: Pipelines viewed as chemical energy carriers

Journal Article · · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)
OSTI ID:6521263

Of the various open-loop chemical heat pipes studied by the Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) under the supervision of N. R. Baker, the one considered most economically attractive uses a coal gasifier at the mine mouth producing low-Btu gas, a shift reaction to adjust the composition of the gas, a 1000 mi pipeline to transport the reaction products (carbon monoxide and hydrogen), and a methanator in the consuming region. The gasification consumes energy, which is later released to generate steam and electricity by the methanation and combustion step. IGT selected a gasifier that it developed: the ash-agglomerating, single-stage, fluidized-bed type, which operates at 1900/sup 0/F and 350 psi, and consumes 550 tons/hr of coal. The methanator considered best, also developed by IGT, is the cold recycle type, in which fresh feed is mixed with cold recycle gas and heated to 450/sup 0/F by heat exchange with hot product gases. The economics of this system; another variation of open-loop chemical heat pipes in which synthesis gas is produced by steam reforming of methane using nuclear reactor heat; and possible problems in pipeline transport and storage of hydrogen-rich gases are discussed.

Research Organization:
Inst. Gas Technol.
OSTI ID:
6521263
Journal Information:
Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Vol. 57:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English