Conversion Technologies

The recorded chronology of the coal-to-gas conversion technology began in 1670 when a clergyman, John Clayton, in Wakefield, Yorkshire, produced in the laboratory a luminous gas by destmctive distillation of coal (12). At the same time, experiments were also underway elsewhere to carbonize coal to produce coke, but the process was not practical on any significant scale until 1730 (12). In 1792, coal was distilled in an iron retort by a Scottish engineer, who used the by-product gas to illuminate his home (13). 

The direct methane conversion technology, which has received the most research attention, involves the oxidative coupling of methane to produce higher hydrocarbons (qv) such as ethylene (qv). These olefinic products may be upgraded to Hquid fuels via catalytic oligomerization processes. 

Direct conversion of natural gas to Hquids has been actively researched. Process economics are highly variable and it is unclear whether direct natural gas conversion technologies are competitive with the estabUshed indirect processes. Some emerging technologies in this area are presented herein. 

J. A. Hamshar, H. D. Terzian, and L. J. Scotti, "Clean Fuels From Coal by the COED Process," paper presented at EPA Symposium on Environmental Aspects of Fuel Conversion Technology, St. Louis, Mo., May 1974. 

S. Yurchak and S. S. Wong, "Mobil Methanol Conversion Technology," Proceedings IGT Asian Natural Gas Seminar, Singapore, 1992, pp. 593—618. 

S. Narula, "Economic Prospects for Methane Conversion Technologies", HIChE 1989 SpringMeeting Houston, Tex. 

C. Y. Wen and E. Stanley Lee, eds.. Coal Conversion Technology, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, Mass. 1979. 

Research is being done in the United States and worldwide to lower some ot the barriers to biofuels. Researchers hope to develop high-yield, fast-growing feedstocks for reliable biomass fuel supplies. Research is also being done to improve the efficiency of energy conversion technologies so that more of the biomass is utilized. 

Au has recently received less attention than Pt as a supported catalyst because of its lower impact in PEMFC energy conversion technology, since the ORR is dominated by a two-electron reduction process, at what is a high overpotential, in acidic media. Nevertheless, it is an important oxygen reduction catalyst in alkaline media, and, in contrast to Pt, is oxide-free in the potential range where oxygen reduction occurs. 

CHEMICAL ENERGY CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES FOR EFFICIENT ENERGY USE... 

Waste recovery and/or reuse. This comprises the identification and implementation of opportunities to recover process chemicals and materials for direct reuse or for reuse elsewhere through renovation or conversion technology. 

Eidt, Jr., C. M., Bauman, R. F., Eisenberg, B., Hochman, J. M., and Lahn, G. C., Current Developments in Natural Gas Conversion Technology, Proc. of the 14th World Petroleum Cong., p. 249, John Wiley Sons (1994)... 

Everett, B. M., Eisenberg, B., and Baumann, R. F., Advanced Gas Conversion Technology A New Option for Natural Gas Development, presented at the First Doha Conference on Natural Gas, Doha, Qatar (1995)... 

This chapter focuses on "biomass to hydrogen conversion technologies." A variety of biomass resources can be converted for energy supply. They can be divided into four general categories 13... 

When implementing a biomass-based thermochemical conversion system, it is important to critically evaluate the feedstock characteristics such as cost, distribution, mass, and physical and chemical properties. The feedstock qualities must be considered when matching feedstocks with a proper conversion technology. 

This review limits itself to the treatment of high-temperature thermochemical biomass conversion technologies. There are very good overviews of biological conversion technologies for hydrogen production, for example, Ni et al.13 and Zaborsky.29... 

OCT [Olefins conversion technology] A process for making propylene from mixed petrochemical feedstocks. Developed by Phillips and acquired by ABB Lummus Global in 1997. First installed at the Karlsruhe oil refinery of MineraloelrafFinerie Oberrhein (Miro) for startup in 2000. 

---