Synfuels production

Fig. 3. Effect of feed moisture content on energy available for synfuel production. Assumes feed has a heating value of 11.63 MJ /kg (5000 Btu/lb) dry. A, 0% moisture in dried feed B, 30% moisture in dried feed. For example, reduction of an initial moisture content of 70 wt % by thermal drying to 30% moisture content requites the equivalent of 37% feed energy content and leaves 63% feed energy available for SNG production.

The MTG process was developed for synfuel production in response to the 1973 oil crisis and the steep rise in crude prices that followed. Because methanol can be made from any gasiftable carbonaceous source, including coal, natural gas, and biomass, the MTG process provided a new alternative to petroleum for Hquid fuels production. New Zealand, heavily dependent on foreign oil imports, utilizes the MTG process to convert vast offshore reserves of natural gas to gasoline (59). 

This paper is presented as an overview of the technical aspects of the sulfur question in synfuels production. 

This paper is designed as a technical overview of the sulfur question in synfuels production. It is not intended as a detailed literature review rather, the discussion is a compilation of engineering experience in the field. In the context of the sulfur symposium, the paper is directed at those who are interested in sulfur itself and not, for example, in the environmental implications of sulfur. 

BPDFOE production, is 0.5 to 1 billion annually. Therefore, the sulfur question in synfuels production has significant economic importance. 

As outlined above, most of the sulfur released from the feed will eventually appear in the gas phase. The primary sulfur problem is synfuels production, therefore, is gas-phase desulfurization. 

Methanol production is not a "capital intensive" process as compared to other synfuel production systems. Fixed capital cost is between US 0.21 and 0.35 per liter/year of installed capacity. This investment cost is similar to that needed for ethanol production in Brazil. 

Besides, in comparison to usual processes, the use of nuclear power in the synfuel production processes allows to drastically increase conversion yield ... 

The hurdles to be passed for a major evolution of fuels and transport, by use of nuclear energy and electrolytic hydrogen are quite important. Among those, are the new interfaces between the petroleum industry and the power industry, which have very different time lines and mental sets. As the positive potential of this solution is proven, it is now of major importance to exchange with the oil industry and progressively identifying economic opportunities for first applications or demonstrations of clean synfuel production. 

In sum, there is little chance of any significant market for coal for synfuels production for a decade, and a resonable chance only for a couple of demonstration plants by the year 2000. Thus, the coal industry is counting only on a demonstration plant market of perhaps five to six million tons per year."... 

Choren CarboV , Germany. In the BTL process of Choren Industries a three-stage gasification process is applied to convert wood chips, waste wood, etc. into a tar-free synthesis gas used for synfuel production. In the... 

It may turn out that the charged particles energy can be very efficiently converted into synfuels. If so, the Cat-D and proton based fuels could become attractive for synfuel production. 

E. Greenspan, "The Promise of Alternate Fusion Fuel Cycles for Synfuel Production," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., June 1981. 

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