We won't even attempt editing the following excerpts from the two links above, or adding much comment, except:
Our own US DOE has developed coal-to-liquid fuel technology with a variety of independent corporate contractors. These are not the only projects "out there".
Where are the reports of all this work? What is the status? Where are we headed now?
This is the US GUV at work, and they work for us, or are supposed to.
Way past time our employees delivered all of us, especially those of us in Coal Country, a progress report, don't you think?
There are some contact names, telephone numbers and emails included in the excerpts below. It's time, way past time, the bosses checked up to see what their employees have been up to lately.
Excerpts as follows:
| United States Department of Energy | |
| Office of Fossil Energy | |
| Project Fact Sheet | |
| | |
| Project Information | |
| Project ID: | DE-FC26-06NT42449 |
| Project Title: | Production of High-Hydrogen Content Coal-Derived Liquids |
| FE Program: | Coal Fuels - Liquid Fuels |
| Research Type: | Engineering Development |
| Funding Memorandum: | Cooperative Agree't (nonCCT) - Tech R&D |
| Project Performer | |
| Performer Type: | For-profit Organization |
| Performer: | Integrated Concepts & Research Corporation 41150 Technology Park Drive Suite 103 |
| Project Team Members: | |
| Project Location | |
| City: | Sterling Heights |
| State: | Michigan |
| Zip Code: | 48314-4156 |
| Congressional District: | 10 |
| Responsible FE Site: | NETL |
| Project Point of Contact | |
| Name: | Bergin, Steve P. |
| Telephone: | (586) 799-1780 |
| Fax Number: | (586) 991-0950 |
| Email Address: | sbergin@icrcsolutions.com |
| Fossil Energy Point of Contact | |
| Name: | Driscoll, Daniel J. |
| Telephone: | (304) 285-4717 |
| Location: | NETL |
| Email Address: | daniel.driscoll@netl.doe.gov |
| Project Dates | |
| Start Date: | 07/01/2005 |
| End Date: | 06/30/2010 |
| Contract Specialist | |
| Name: | Harshman, Angela (Delmastro) |
| Telephone: | (412) 386-5038 |
| Cost & Funding Information | |
| Total Est. Cost: | $3,477,494 |
| DOE Share: | $2,779,168 |
| Non DOE Share: | $698,326 |
| Project Description | |
| The objective of this project is to evaluate and compare intrinsic differences between cobalt (Co) and iron (Fe) catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis utilizing coal-derived synthesis gas. Specific parameters to be evaluated include: the effect of contaminants contained in coal-derived syngas on catalyst activity and lifetime, the required H2/CO ratios for efficient conversion, the required level of syngas cleanup to maintain catalyst reactivity and raw product upgrading requirements to produce high-hydrogen content coal-derived liquids. | |
| Project Background | |
| BACKGROUND F-T plants that have used coal as their feedstock have virtually all used iron catalyst systems for F-T synthesis. When coal is gasified, it produces syngas that has a much lower hydrogen content than syngas obtained by reforming other hydrocarbons. For example, methane typically produces syngas with a H2/CO ratio of ~2, or about double that typically obtained with coal. Iron F-T catalyst systems are generally considered to be much more tolerant of syngas with coal's low H2/CO ratios because the iron system can catalyze a significant amount of water-gas shift, and thus increase the effective H2/CO ratio at essentially the same time as it catalyzes F-T synthesis. This means that the raw F-T products synthesized from coal-derived syngas using iron catalysts need not be as deficient in hydrogen as might be implied by the initial H2/CO ratio of the syngas. Cobalt F-T catalyst systems need their incoming syngas to have a H2/CO ratio of about two to produce the highest quality products. If coal is the feedstock, the H2/CO ratio of the syngas must be increased for a cobalt catalyst system. This adds cost and complexity, but the cobalt catalyst system may (or may not) provide other advantages that more than compensate overall. This project provides the unique opportunity for combining and evaluating, in a single R&D project, real-world, in-depth studies of all the primary or core elements required for the integration of the full-range of F-T synthesis technologies (with both cobalt and iron catalyst systems) using coal-derived syngas. The work will provide a detailed comparison between cobalt and iron catalysts, evaluate the catalysts sensitivity to various contaminants and poisons, assess possible gas cleanup scenarios, and produce and test experimental quantities of coal-derived F-T liquid fuels. | |
| Project Milestones | |
| This information is currently unavailable. | |
| Project Accomplishments | |
| Title: | Revised Agreement |
| Date: | 09/19/2008 |
| Description | A revised agreement with a modified SOW was put in place on July 10, 2008. |
| Title: | Status/Accomplishments |
| Date: | 04/01/2006 |
| Description | A Cooperative Agreement was awarded to Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation on March 30, 2006. |
| United States Department of Energy | |
| Office of Fossil Energy | |
| Project Fact Sheet | |
| | |
| Project Information | |
| Project ID: | DE-FC26-05NT42448 |
| Project Title: | Production and Optimization of Coal-Derived, High-Hydrogen Content Fischer-Tropsch Liquids |
| FE Program: | Coal Fuels - Liquid Fuels |
| Research Type: | Engineering Development |
| Funding Memorandum: | Cooperative Agree't (nonCCT) - Tech R&D |
| Project Performer | |
| Performer Type: | Large Business |
| Performer: | Headwaters Technology Innovation Group 1501 New York Avenue |
| Project Team Members: | |
| Project Location | |
| City: | Lawrenceville |
| State: | New Jersey |
| Zip Code: | 08648-4635 |
| Congressional District: | 12 |
| Responsible FE Site: | NETL |
| Project Point of Contact | |
| Name: | Lee, Theo L.K. |
| Telephone: | (609) 394-3102 ext. 262 |
| Fax Number: | (609) 394-1278 |
| Email Address: | tlee@headwaters.com |
| Fossil Energy Point of Contact | |
| Name: | Driscoll, Daniel J. |
| Telephone: | (304) 285-4717 |
| Location: | NETL |
| Email Address: | daniel.driscoll@netl.doe.gov |
| Project Dates | |
| Start Date: | 07/01/2005 |
| End Date: | 04/15/2010 |
| Contract Specialist | |
| Name: | Reese (formerly Sheehan), Dona |
| Telephone: | (412) 386-5918 |
| Cost & Funding Information | |
| Total Est. Cost: | $1,396,485 |
| DOE Share: | $1,100,000 |
| Non DOE Share: | $296,485 |
| Project Description | |
| The primary objective of this project is to investigate the production of barrel quantities of high-hydrogen content, coal-derived liquids using iron-based Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis in a process development unit (PDU)-scale reactor. Tests conducted in the PDU-scale reactor will be based on optimization studies conducted in bench-scale reactor systems. The bench-scale reactor systems will evaluate two iron-based FT catalysts - a high alpha catalyst in a slurry bubble column and a medium alpha catalyst in an ebullated-bed mode of operation. The catalyst holding the most promise for future commercial application will be recommended for PDU-scale reactor testing and the production of barrel quantities of high-hydrogen content, coal-derived FT liquids. In support of the primary objective, the project will also investigate primary and secondary wax/catalyst separation, hydrotreating and hydrocracking of neat FT liquid products, and hydrogen yield from product reforming. The products made will be high-hydrogen content, coal-derived liquid types suitable for additional research and testing in a variety of applications, including distributed hydrogen generation. Data from these tasks will be employed in the development of a conceptual coal-to-liquids plant design and system analysis. The potential benefit of this work is expected to result in the development of a more reliable, economic, and efficient coal-based system for producing FT liquids to meet the long-term goals of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Coal-to-Hydrogen Program. The successful development of these technologies will also provide scientific data which will help in accelerating the future commercialization of coal-to-liquids technology in the energy industry. | |
| Project Background | |
| Increased oil prices, political instability in oil rich countries, and environmental concerns have sparked renewed interest in coal-based Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology as a means of reducing the United States' dependence on foreign oil. Integrated coal gasification, combined cycle, and FT technology holds the potential to provide clean, domestic sources of electricity, liquid fuels, hydrogen, and commodity chemicals. The technical and economical feasibility of coal gasification and FT technologies have been enhanced by recent improvements in coal gasification for clean power generation and in natural gas-to-liquid technologies for monetizing remote gas reserves. However, a different catalysis system is required for coal-derived synthesis gas and numerous integration issues between the coal gasifier and the FT synthesis reactor must be investigated before commercialization can occur. The goal of the proposed work is to accelerate the commercialization of coal-to-liquids technology. | |
| Project Milestones | |
| This information is currently unavailable. | |
| Project Accomplishments | |
| Title: | Status/Accomplishments |
| Date: | 09/30/2005 |
| Description | A Cooperative Agreement was awarded to Headwaters Technology Innovations Group on May 24, 2005. |