Net energy analysis of synthetic liquid fuels. [Produced by coal gasification and liquefaction, Garrett-, Tosco- and Paraho-produced shale oil]
To aid in understanding the commitment of energy resources required by a strategy which replaces imported petroleum with synthetic fuels, increases in energy consumption were calculated for eight different synthetic liquid fuel technologies, focusing on automotive transportation as the end use for these fuels. The various synthetic fuels were produced by the liquefaction of Illinois and Wyoming coal by the H-Coal Process, TOSCO II oil shale retorting, Paraho oil shale retorting, Garrett modified in-situ oil shale retorting, methanol from coal via Lurgi gasification of New Mexico coal, methanol from coal via Koppers-Totzek gasification of Illinois coal, and methanol from coal via the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL) process for in-situ gasification of Powder River, Wyoming coal. From the calculation of incremental resource energy requirements, it appears apparent that recovery of the higher grades of oil shale results in the lowest consumption of domestic energy resources. The conversion of coal to syncrude is intermediate, and the conversion of coal to methanol results in the highest consumption (with the exception of in-situ recovery) even when increased end-use efficiency is taken into account. The production of methanol from coal, gasified in-situ, compares favorably with other options. However, this process is still in the conceptual stage; much experimental work will have to be done before actual operating efficiencies are known. If the favorable conversion and end-use efficiencies can be achieved, then the in-situ methanol route may prove an attractive option for use of that portion of the nation's coal reserves that are not efficiently recoverable by mining. The efficiency of in-situ recovery of lower grade oil shale resources is not as attractive as that of other syncrude options. However, the advantages of being able to recover a large part of the oil shale resource, not otherwise recoverable, should be a major consideration.
- Research Organization:
- Stanford Research Inst., Menlo Park, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 7314032
- Journal Information:
- Q. Colo. Sch. Mines; (United States), Vol. 71:4; Conference: 9. oil shale symposium, Golden, CO, USA, 29 Apr 1976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
FOSSIL FUELS
CONVERSION
SYNTHETIC FUELS
NET ENERGY
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL LIQUEFACTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
GASOLINE
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
METHANOL
NATURAL GAS
OIL SHALES
OXY MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESS
PARAHO PROCESS
PETROLEUM
SHALE OIL
TOSCO PROCESS
USA
ALCOHOLS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
LIQUEFACTION
MINERAL OILS
MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESSES
NORTH AMERICA
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROCESSING
SYNTHETIC PETROLEUM
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
040400* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Oil Production
Recovery
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010404 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification
010405 - Coal
Lignite
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294000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Fossil Fuels
295000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels