Liquefaction technology assessment. Phase I: indirect liquefaction of coal to methanol and gasoline using available technology. [Lurgi process; methanol synthesis; Mobil M-gasoline process; detailed economic assumptions given]
This first phase of a technical and economic assessment of coal liquefaction technology covers indirect liquefaction of a western United States subbituminous coal using Lurgi dry-ash gasifiers. Major liquefaction technologies employed were ICI low-pressure methanol synthesis and Mobil-MTG conversion of methanol to gasoline. Four major cases were studied, representing different product slates. In each case, the economic study was based on the detailed process design of a conceptual, self-sufficient, commercial facility using a coal feed rate to the gasifiers of 16,000 tons per stream day on a moisture- and ash-free basis. This corresponds to a total as-received coal feed rate of approx. 30,000 TPSD to the facility. Process designs, equipment summaries, cost estimates, and operating requirements were prepared by Fluor Engineers and Constructors, Houston Division, under a subcontract to ORNL. Economic calculations to determine product prices under various conditions were made by ORNL using Fluor's capital costs and operating requirements. Base-case economic conditions included 100% equity financing at 12% annual after-tax return on equity, no inflation, and a coal price of $1.00/10/sup 6/ Btu. Calculations were made by the ORNL discounted cash flow program PRP. The product price corresponds to a production cost at the plant gate and includes taxes and return on investment. Economic sensitivity studies showed that the two factors having the greatest influence on product price were the method of financing and the inclusion of escalation of inflation. Depending on the financing assumptions, the initial gasoline selling price in 1979 dollars varied from $0.78 to $1.25/gallon. This price must be escalated at 6%/yr to obtain the price in the start-up year, or in any other year of operation. These and other results of the study are discussed in detail with the assumptions involved given explicitly. (LTN)
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6651284
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL-5664
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CHEMICAL PLANTS
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
COAL GASIFICATION PLANTS
GASOLINE
PRICES
LURGI PROCESS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
METHANOL
MOBIL M-GASOLINE PROCESS
BY-PRODUCTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL LIQUEFACTION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENGINEERING
NUMERICAL DATA
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS GAS
ALCOHOLS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
LIQUEFACTION
LIQUID FUELS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
010405* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
010404 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification