Synthetic chemical fuels

The synthetic chemical fuels, made of hydrogen and carbon, have the same basic chemical composition as the fossil fuels we are trying to eliminate. Use of these compounds will simply perpetuate the problems described in Chapter 1 for which we are seeking a solution. If implemented on a wide scale, synthetic fuel production processes provide a method of continuing the undesirable addition of carbon dioxide and other pollutants to the atmosphere. In addition, they eneourage increased production of coal, the most polluting of the fossil fuels. The fuel for the future must be hydrogen used alone, without carbon. 

A SYNTHETIC CHEMICAL FUEL WILL BE REQUIRED BECAUSE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND FUSION SOURCES PRODUCES ONLY ELECTRICITY OR HEAT. 

Gasification. Gasification converts soHd fuel, tars, and oils to gaseous products such as CO, H2, and CH that can be burned direcdy or used in synthesis gas (syngas) mixtures, ie, CO and mixtures for production of Hquid fuels and other chemicals (47,48) (see Coal conversion processes, gasification Euels, synthetic-gaseous fuel Hydrogen). 

Imperial Chemical Industries in Great Britain hydrogenated coal to produce gasoline until the start of World War II. The process then operated on creosote middle oil until 1958. As of this writing none of these plants is being used to make Hquid fuels for economic reasons. The present prices of coal and hydrogen from coal have not made synthetic Hquid fuels competitive. Exceptions are those cases, as in South Africa, where there is availabiHty of cheap coal, and fuel Hquids are very important. 

Carbon dioxide and water are the major waste products from most natural and industrial processes and hence are found in large quantities in the environment. If an efficient and cheap means could be found, the reduction of C02 could provide a potentially rich source of carbon for utilisation in the production of, for example, synthetic hydrocarbon fuels to replace petroleum, formic and oxalic acids for the chemical industries and foodstuffs such as glucose. 

We next return to another reaction of a CO + H2 mixture, which we called synthesis gas or syngas. It has this name because it is used to synthesize many chemicals such as methanol. Another synthesis reaction from CO and H2 is a polymerization process called the Fisher Tropsch synthesis of synthetic diesel fuel. 

DVakova, M. K., Production of Synthetic Liquid Fuels and Chemical Products by Thermal Dissolution of Solid Fuels, p. 86, Academy of Science of the U.S.S.R., 1957. 

The physical and chemical properties of synthetic crudes are different from those of petroleum. Increased NO and soot production are the principal problems of the combustion of synthetic fuels, and control concepts for these two problems are in conflict. Fuel-rich combustion decreases NO but augments soot production, while fuel-lean combustion decreases (and can eliminate) soot production but augments NO emissions. Moreover, control procedures can affect combustion efficiency and heat-transfer distribution to the chamber surfaces. Table I, taken from Grumer (6), illustrates some specific relevant properties of synthetic liquid fuels and petroleum-based fuels. The principal differences between these fuels as related to their combustion behavior are summarized in Table II. 

Table IV summarizes the expected impact of the synfuel physical and chemical properties on the combustion process. In general, the properties of alternative and synthetic liquid fuels vary considerably as the fuel types range from unrefined to hydrogenated liquid fuels from coal, shale, and tar sands. Synthetic fuels of various levels of refinement will be used by the industrial, commercial, and utility sectors to produce thermal enegy for direct process heat, mechanical energy, steam, hot water, and the production of electricity. Consequently,...

The clean and efficient utilization of synthetic liquid fuels requires a detailed understanding of the chemical, physical, and combustion characteristics of these fuels as they burn in utility and industrial combustion equipment. We have... 

Because of Germany s isolation from adequate sources of petroleum and natural rubber, she had already converted much of her industry during World War One to use coal as a substitute source of hydrocarbons for making synthetic liquid fuels as well as a vast assortment of chemical substances, including synthetic rubber. Millions of tons of carbon monoxide were produced as part of this technology and would have been more than enough to kill the entire population of Europe many times over. 

Friedel, R.A. and Anderson, R.B. Composition of synthetic liquid fuels. I. Product distribution and analysis of C5-C8 paraffin isomers from cobalt catalyst. Journal of American Chemical Society, 1950, 72, 1212. 

Chemical Engineering Research Consultants Ltd, "The Production of Synthetic Liquid Fuels for Ontario" Ministry of Energy Ontario Toronto 1977 Volume 5. 

The synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO hydrogenation over transition metals is a major source of organic synthetic chemicals and fuels. The Fischer-Ttopsch (FT) reaction, which is directed to the production of hydrocarbons from syngas, implies the polymerisation of-CHx entities and carbon-carbon bond formation is required. The historical achievements have been revised on several occasions see for instance, the reviews by Vannice,2 Schulz3 and the special issue of Catalysis TodayA devoted to FT. Also, a synopsis of the main recent industrial developments has been presented by Adesina.5 Furthermore, the recent edition of Topics in Catalysis6 should be mentioned, where different aspects of the reaction mechanism, surface reconstruction of active surfaces, improved reactors and optimisation of catalyst preparations have been treated by various specialists, scientists and engineers. 

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