Synthetic fuel processes

Del Bel, E, Friedman, S. and Yavorsky, P.M., "Economic Feasibility of the Conversion of Organic Waste to Fuel Oil and Pipeline Gas", in "Synthetic Fuels Processing Comparative Economics", A.H. Pelofsky (Ed.), Chap. XX, 443-459,... 

Based on the title of this symposium the objective of this paper is to discuss some dilemmas facing synthetic fuel process developers. The COGAS Process under development by the COGAS Development Company is a combined liquefaction and gasification process. Development has been conducted since mid-1972 when the joint venture company was formed. We face two types of dilemmas. 

The second dilemma for a synthetic fuels process developer is related to "selling" the process. To be put to commercial use, the process under development must not only produce the products required, but must be shown to do so at costs that are competitive with other supplemental sources. The problem is to obtain economic analysis information on a consistent basis. A review of published economics indicates that it would probably be difficult to do this from papers presented at public meetings. Thus, for choosing a developing process to be used - or even to be supported... 

So synthetic fuel process developers have the two dilemmas discussed herein - when will there be a commercial synthetic fuesl industry and is the process under development going to be competitive. Hopefully, the Government will make the moves necessary to produce the investments in commercial-scale plants soon. COGAS Development Company feels it has the competitive process. 

Finally, the fact that these organoarsonic acids are released upon oil shale pyrolysis has important implications in the various synthetic fuel processes, where the role of organometallic compounds in poisoning process catalysts and contributing to environmental problems, is paramount. (32,33)... 

The Fischer-Tropsch process is the most notable of the various synthetic fuel processes and has products that range from lighter hydrocarbon liquids like naphtha to diesel fuel and heavier hydrocarbons like lubes and waxes. The final product mix is dependent upon operating conditions and process units, such as inclusion of hydrocracking functionality. By varying the design and operating conditions in the reaction section, the plant can optimize production of the desired product slate (5). 

The ku values for N2-hydrocarbon binaries are listed in Table III and plotted on Figure 3—along with the results of Chueh and Prausnitz (4). As shown in Figure 3, Equation 14 (with m = 0.0364) gives a satisfactory fit of the data. That is, Equation 14, with nC = 0, applies to inorganic-hydrocarbon binaries as well. Indeed, it appears to fit reasonably well the k 9s for the hydrocarbon binaries of H2—the most important inorganic gas in the heavy hydrocarbon and synthetic fuels processes— and even of Ar. The results of new determinations for the H2 and Ar binaries are included in Table III, and all the values have been plotted on Figure 4. 

The hydroformylation or oxo reaction has been chosen for particular study for several reasons (a) The reaction was discovered by Roelen 2) in the course of an investigation of the mechanism of the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, and a study of the hydroformylation reaction could furnish information on the course of this heterogeneously catalyzed synthetic fuel process (6) hydroformylation involves the activation of hydrogen by a molecularly dispersed catalyst (c) there are few side reactions (d) the catalyst for the reaction, Co2(CO)s, is easily prepared, is relatively nontoxic, and is consequently readily available for study and (e) the reaction is of great industrial importance. 

SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESSES 19.3.1 Consol Synthetic Fuel Process... 

A. H. Pelofsky (ed.). Synthetic Fuels Processing, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1977. 

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