Yet another relatively-ancient artifact, from the 1970's, which, unearthed, reveals that the technology for converting coal into liquid fuels was much further advanced, and more broadly disseminated, than even we had thought.
In essence, a pilot plant was being operated by a major petroleum company - so you shouldn't have to wonder why you haven't heard about this previously; in California - the very heart of Coal Country where news of advanced use of coal would be met with raucous jubilation; to convert, notwaste left behind by coal that had already been converted into liquid fuel, into the raw materials to make even more liquid fuel. coal into the raw materials for liquid fuel making, but, to convert the still-carbonaceous
Coal is generous in that respect, we guess. It's like olives and grapes - bountiful fruits that, even after having been gently expressed for their light oil and sweet juice, can be further ground and compressed to yield even more.
You're an old West Virginia hillbilly, Mike. Certainly, you've heard of "second squeezin's" from corn intended to make moonshine. That is exactly what this is. Like olives, grapes and corn, coal is so good we really don't want to waste any of it.
As follows:
| "Title: | Gasification of coal liquefaction residues | |
| Authors: | Robin, A.M,; Schlinger, W.G. | |
| Affiliation: | AA(Texaco, Inc., Montebello Research Laboratory, El Monte, Calif.), AB(Texaco, Inc., Montebello Research Laboratory, El Monte, 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. 431-437. Research supported by the Electric Power Research Institute; | |
| Publication Date: | 00/1978 | |
| Category: | Energy Production and Conversion | |
| Origin: | STI | |
| NASA/STI Keywords: | COAL LIQUEFACTION, ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, GASIFICATION, PILOT PLANTS, RESIDUES, ASHES, DIAGRAMS, FEASIBILITY, HYDROGENATION, RECYCLING | |
| Bibliographic Code: | 1978iece....1..431R |
Abstract
Methods for the gasification of high-ash-coal liquefaction residues are considered and a pilot plant process flow diagram is presented. Particular attention is given to the feed preparation system, gasifier operation, the removal of molten slag, char recovery, and water recycling procedures. Six coal liquefaction processes are listed noting the capacity, plant type, and plant location of each. Primary physical and chemical properties of twelve residues are presented. Preliminary and extended evaluations are made for pilot plant test runs."
Seems both perverse and appropriate that they would go after coal's second squeezins in California wine country, where they would have a lot of experience gettin' goodies out of already-pressed grape skins, doesn't it?
Please don't be distracted by the seemingly frivolous metaphor. In plain truth, coal is so productive, so rich in it's potential to provide the raw materials for liquid fuel, the overseers of our shadowed Synthetic Fuels program were led to develop what is well-known in the ore-extraction and chemical-processing industries as "second pass" technology.