Northeast coal utilization program: Phase 2. Final report. [Evaluation of coal liquids as fuels in northeast USA]

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6671288· OSTI ID:6671288

This report documents the activities of a group of utilities drawn from the northeastern United States. It relates to the introduction of coal liquefaction as a source of the liquid fuel needed for power generation in the region. Coal liquefaction by hydrogenation using the H-Coal, Exxon Donor Solvent, and SRC-II processes is the focus of general studies related to technology and economics, to commercial project development, and to plant siting. Achievement of significant coal liquefaction capacity in place is recognized to be hindered by technical risk and lack of economic incentive as the nation adjusts to the use of heavy, high sulfur crude oils. Against this background, the concept is developed of a convertible plant capable of functioning in both coal liquefaction and in heavy oil upgrading. Construction of a single train coal liquefaction facility based on purchasing hydrogen and other services from an adjacent oil refinery is also considered as a method of introducing first generation coal liquefaction plants at minimum risk. Studies of process configuration show that least cost coal liquids are produced based on hydrogen production by gasification of process residues; purchase of plant power and sale of product gas can improve the economics of coal liquefaction; potential exists for integration of direct (e.g., H-Coal) and indirect (e.g., methanol) methods of coal liquefaction; and coal liquefaction in which distillable, low sulfur liquid products are made appears to be the most economical approach, though scope exists for continued evaluation in this area.

• Research Organization: Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., New York (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6671288
• Report Number(s): EPRI-AP-1671
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
COAL LIQUEFACTION
ECONOMICS
COAL LIQUIDS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
BOILER FUELS
COAL LIQUEFACTION PLANTS
EVALUATION
EXXON LIQUEFACTION PROCESS
FLOWSHEETS
FUELS
H-COAL PROCESS
MAPS
METHANOL
NUMERICAL DATA
RESIDUES
SITE SELECTION
SRC-II PROCESS
USA
WATER RESOURCES
ALCOHOLS
DATA
DIAGRAMS
FLUIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
LIQUEFACTION
LIQUIDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RESOURCES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
015000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
010405 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
200108 - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Fuels- (1980-)
294001 - Energy Planning & Policy- Coal