Nuclear power for the production of synthetic fuels and feedstocks
The generation of heat, electricity, and hydrogen are considered as intermediate steps in achieving the goal of a synthetic carbonaceous fuel and feedstock economy. The backbone of the power industry will be nuclear assisted by coal, solar, and geothermal. The value of utilizing carbonaceous raw materials for conversion to premium-grade synthetic fuels and feed-stocks is greater than burning them for their BTU value alone. The generation of hydrogen and oxygen by the electrolytic decomposition of water using off-peak nuclear power provides a powerful process system to convert all forms of carbonaceous material to synthetic hydrocarbons. Constructing nuclear power plants to provide peaking capacity and utilizing the off-peak power for producing synthetic carbonaceous fuel can bring the systems to an earlier economic realization with respect to the cost of the imported barrel of oil. Estimates indicate that, under 1985 escalated conditions, a 1000 MW(e) off-peak nuclear power plant assisting a 4000 T/D coal conversion plant can produce 26,000 bbl/day synthetic gasoline at a cost of 66 cents/gallon breaking even with $20/bbl oil. This plant is more economical than a conventional coal conversion plant under the same assumptions. The total capital cost for producing one million barrels per day of synthetic gasoline is less than for new oil exploration and refined fuel production facilities. Further assessment of these concepts is warranted.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(30-1)-16
- OSTI ID:
- 7353753
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-21330; CONF-760906-17
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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