Synthetic fuels basics

The market penetration of synthetic fuels from biomass and wastes in the United States depends on several basic factors, eg, demand, price, performance, competitive feedstock uses, government incentives, whether estabUshed fuel is replaced by a chemically identical fuel or a different product, and cost and availabiUty of other fuels such as oil and natural gas. Detailed analyses have been performed to predict the market penetration of biomass energy well into the twenty-first century. A range of from 3 to about 21 EJ seems to characterize the results of most of these studies. 

Introduction of zeolites into catalytic cracking improved the quality of the product and the efficiency of the process. It was estimated that this modification in catalyst composition in the United States alone saved over 200 million barrels of crude oil in 1977. The use of bimetallic catalysts in reforming of naphthas, a basic process for the production of high-octane gasoline and petrochemicals, resulted in great improvement in the catalytic performance of the process, and in considerable extension of catalyst life. New catalytic approaches to the development of synthetic fuels are being unveiled. 

When David asked me where I thought the human race should be focusing its scientific efforts, my first inclination for scientific investment was to consider all the standard or obvious areas of basic research aimed at alleviating or understanding disease, world hunger, and environmental problems—and research in synthetic fuels and agriculture. However, because we are already directing money toward most of... 

Pyridine has been found in both subsurface and groundwater as a result of industrial activities such as synthetic fuel production and chemical manufacturing (Sims O Eoughlin, 1989). Pyridine is a component in the basic fraction of oil-shale... 

The sustained elevated price of crude oil seen in 2005 has led to increased interest in synthetic fuels. Synthetic fuels have been produced for more than 80 years through processes known as Fischer-Tropsch chemistry. Carbon monoxide is a basic feedstock in these processes. Franz Fischer (1852-1932) and Hans Tropsch (1889-1935) produced liquid hydrocarbons in the 1920s by reacting carbon monoxide (produced from natural gas) with hydrogen using metal catalysts such as iron and cobalt. Germany and Japan produced synthetic fuels during World War II. Low crude oil prices dictated little interest in synthetic fuels after the war,... 

Basically, our initiative in coal-derived synthetic fuels began at the end of World War II from the German technology and liquefaction experience, and this was the basic reason why the center at PETC was expanded from downtown Pittsburgh out to its current site. Then with the discovery of substantial oil assets in the mid-East War. So PETC s technology base on liquefied coal fuels has been in being since the end of World War II. 

After many years, chemical reaction engineering has developed a paradigm classic papers that are universally admired, basic assumptions and analysis, successful applications of principles to particular problems, and standard textbooks and curricula that are generally accepted. Chemical reaction engineering is not yet completely matured and thus has not been reduced to restatements of old results and remeasurements with greater accuracy. The innovation processes continue to develop. New needs of society, such as synthetic fuels, and new technical opportunities, such as recombinant DNA, will keep this subject vigorous for many years to come. 

A visualization study of fuel atomization using a pulsed laser holography/photography technique indicates that basic spray formation processes are the same for both a coal-derived synthetic fuel (SRC-II) and comparable petroleum fuels (No. 2 and No. 6 grade). Measurements were made on both pressure swirl and air assisted atomizers in a cold spray facility having well controlled fuel temperature. Quality of the sprays formed with SRC-II was between that of the No. 2 and No. 6 fuel sprays and was consistent with measured fuel viscosity. Sauter mean droplet diameter (SMD) was found to correlate with fuel viscosity, atomization pressure, and fuel flow rate. For all three fuels, a smaller SMD could be obtained with the air assisted than with the pressure swirl atomizer. 

Morever, recent U.S. experience with the steady-flow, vertical packed bed, partial oxidation pyrolysis process C, ) has demonstrated that this technology, updated from its earlier froms is a viable means for conversion of forestry and agricultural wastes into synthetic fuels. In addition, the basic simplicity of the process makes it suitable for applications in rural environments because of its few moving parts, low maintenance requirements, and general ruggedness. But the steady-flow, vertical, packed bed,... 

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. 

The list in Figure 2 includes four petroleum refining, four chemical, and three synthetic fuels and chemicals processes — all developed and brought to commercial-ready status in the short span of 15 years since we received the basic patent on ZSM-5. Today, ZSM-5 is being used in more than 40 commercial installations on five continents. This is a remarkable achievement. 

Speight, J.G. 2007. Natural Gas A Basic Handbook. GPC Books, Grdf Publishing Company, Houston, TX. Speight, J.G. 2008. Synthetic Fuels Handbook Properties, Processes, and Performance. McGraw-HiU,... 

Basic fraction isolated from a crude synthetic fuel product by class fractionation procedure. Acetone subfraction of basic fraction that is further fractionated by... 

Epichlorohydrin. Commercial polyester elastomers include both the homopolymer and the copolymer of epichl orohydrin with ethylene oxide. The very polar chloromethyl groups create basic resistance to oil for these polymers, and they have been extensively used in fuel lines however, the desire for lower fuel permeation is causing a search to be made for other polymers (10) (see Elastomers, synthetic-polyethers). 

Polybasic carboxylic hydroxy and amino acid aided synthetic routes directed towards obtaining mixed inorganic materials, especially for battery and fuel cell applications, are overviewed. It has been shown that, in spite of enormous number of papers on the subject, significant efforts should be undertaken in order to understand the basic principles of these routes. Possible influence of the structure of reactants employed in the process (acids, poly hydroxy alcohols, metal salts) is put forward, and some directions of future work in the field are outlined. 

Gasification technologies offer the potential of clean and efficient energy. The technologies enable the production of synthetic gas from low or negative-value carbon-based feedstocks such as coal, petroleum coke, high sulfur fuel oil, materials that would otherwise be disposed as waste, and biomass. The gas can be used in place of natural gas to generate electricity, or as a basic raw material to produce chemicals and liquid fuels. 

The fuels that are derived from petroleum supply more than half of the world s total supply of energy. Gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil provide fuel for automobiles, tractors, tmcks, aircraft, and ships. Fuel oil and natural gas are used to heat homes and commercial buildings, as well as to generate electricity. Petroleum products are the basic materials used for the manufacture of synthetic fibers for clothing and in plastics, paints, fertilizers, insecticides, soaps, and synthetic rubber. The uses of petroleum as a source of raw material in manufacturing are central to the functioning of modem industry. 

The direct liquefaction technologies, which include Solvent Refined Coal, Exxon Donor Solvent and H-Coal processes have never been operated at a commercial scale. As discussed yesterday, these processes are not at advanced stages of development. The products from direct liquefaction processes are basically boiler fuels or synthetic crudes that could potentially be upgraded to... 

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