Another relatively ancient artifact, from another well-known corporation, attesting to our knowledge, and the reality, of technologies for converting our abundant coal into needed liquid fuels.
The excerpt:
| "Title: | Coal conversion by flash hydropyrolysis and hydrogasification | |
| Authors: | Oberg, C.L., Combs, L.P., Silverman, J. | |
| Affiliation: | AA(Rockwell International Corp., Rocketdyne Div., Canoga Park, Calif | |
| Publication: | In: Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 13th, San Diego, Calif., August 20-25, 1978, Proceedings. Volume 1. (A79-10001 01-44) Warrendale, Pa., Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., 1978, p. 402-408 AbstractResults are described from two programs directed toward development of high-mass-flux, short-residence-time reactors for conversion of coal into high-value gases and liquids. For either liquefaction or gasification, pulverized coal is rapidly and thoroughly mixed with preheated hydrogen and allowed to react for periods ranging from a few milliseconds to a few seconds. In the liquefaction case, the reaction is subsequently quenched rapidly. Successful reactor tests have been carried out at nominal coal flowrates of 1/4- and 1-ton/hour with caking bituminous coals. Up to 1500 pounds of coal has been processed in single test with test durations up to 1 hour. Favorable quality liquids and gases have been produced with overall conversions consistent with the requirements of a commercial plant. Results from liquefaction tests with western Kentucky bituminous coals and gasification tests with bituminous and sub-bituminous coals will be described." .We will excerpt and highlight one passage: "Favorable quality liquids and gases have been produced with overall conversions consistent with the requirements of a commercial plant." In 1978, we knew that we could produce "Favorable quality (fuel) liquids" from coal, in ways that were "consistent with the requirements of a commercial plant." What, besides the price, and the total cost, of imported petroleum, has changed since 1978? Shouldn't everything about coal-based liquids be even more "favorable" now? |