Competing technologies

Methanol synthesis will be used many times as an example to explain some concepts, largely because the stoichiometry of methanol synthesis is simple. The physical properties of all compounds are well known, details of many competing technologies have been published and methanol is an important industrial chemical. In addition to its relative simplicity, methanol synthesis offers an opportunity to show how to handle reversible reactions, the change in mole numbers, removal of reaction heat, and other engineering problems. 

Before the selection of a specific treatment technology can be made, an understanding of the site-specific factors which drive the selection of that technology is required because these factors can influence the evaluation of the advantages and limitations of competing technologies. The information required to resolve these site-specific issues falls into four categories waste composition and matrices, waste quantity, treatment objectives, and the reactions involved in the treatment of the contaminated material. 

Societal risks to life and health from nuclear power plant operation should be comparable to or less than the risks of generating electricity by viable competing technologies and should not be a significant addition to other societal risks. ... 

PX-Plus A process for disproportionating toluene to p-xylene and benzene. Developed by UOP in the 1990s. Competing technologies are Mobil s MSTDP and MTPX. Not commercialized as of 1997. 

The salient costs as well as its technical feasibility (competing technology, patents and company experience pertinent to electrolysis) must be considered. Attention must also be paid to ... 

More than a century later, auto transportation may be at a similar crossroads, with competing technologies in various stages of development. Just as in 1900, there can be many turns in the road as... 

M. Faroogue, G. Steinfield, H. Maru, "Comparative Assessment of Coal-Fueled Carbonate Fuel Cell and Competing Technologies," in Proceedings of the 25th lECEC, Vol. 3, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, New York, NY, 1990. 

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