Fischer Tropsch Fuels From Coal Natural Gas And Biomass

As the price of crude oil sets a record high, liquid transportation fuels synthesized from coal, natural gas, and biomass are proposed as one solution to reducing dependency on imported petroleum and strained refinery capacity. The technology to do so developed from processes that directly and indirectly convert coal into liquid fuel. Congress now faces decisions on whether, and to what extent, it should support such a solution. Lacking domestic petroleum resources, but abundant in coal, Germany built synthetic fuel plants during World War II that employed the Bergius coal hydrogenation process (direct liquefaction), and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (indirect). The United States attempted to capitalize on the German experience after World War II. Despite considerable investment in synthetic fuel research and development, the United States cut support for commercialization when crude oil prices dropped and supplies stabilized in the mid-1980s. Since then, several synthetic fuels plants have been constructed around the world that convert coal, natural gas, or biomass to liquid fuels using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Several private ventures in the United States are now studying the feasibility of constructing Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuel plants based on coal, natural gas, and biomass. Proposals to expand the use of coal to synthesize transportation fuels have generated much opposition, particularly because the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced in the Fischer-Tropsch process is a greenhouse gas associated with global warming. Also, opponents claim that coal-based synthesis, in particular, is inefficient and thus prohibitively expensive. Proponents counter that Fischer-Tropsch technology provides a means of capturing carbon dioxide for geological sequestration (though a promising solution, sequestration remains unproven on an industrial scale) and that it appears economically viable in a sustained crude oil price range above $40 to $45 per barrel. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is well suited to producing middle-distillate range fuels like diesel and jet. The diesel produced is superior to conventionally refined diesel in terms of higher cetane-number and low sulfur content. Overall, middle distillate fuels represent roughly a quarter of U.S. refinery production, which is primarily driven by the demand for gasoline. In order for a synthetic fuels industry (whether coal, natural gas, or biomass based) to begin rivaling or even supplanting conventional petroleum refining, a major shift in transportation mode toward diesel engine light-passenger vehicles would have to occur. Coal-to-liquids would also compete for the same resources needed for electric power generation, and the rail capacity currently supporting their demand. Recent energy legislation promotes research on capturing and storing greenhouse gas emissions and improving vehicle fuel efficiency, among other goals. Fisher-Tropsch fuels present the paradox of high carbon emissions associated with production versus lower carbon emissions associated with their use.

Greener Fischer-Tropsch Processes How can we use our carbon-based resources in the most responsible manner? How can we most efficiently transform natural gas, coal, or biomass into diesel, jet fuel or gasoline to drive our machines? The Big Questions today are energy-related, and the Fischer-Tropsch process provides industrially tested solutions. This book offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the Fischer-Tropsch process, from the basic science and engineering to commercial issues. It covers industrial, economic, environmental, and fundamental aspects, with a specific focus on “green” concepts such as sustainability, process improvement, waste-reduction, and environmental care. The result is a practical reference for researchers, engineers, and financial analysts working in the energy sector, who are interested in carbon conversion, fuel processing or synthetic fuel technologies. It is also an ideal introductory book on the Fischer-Tropsch process for graduate courses in chemistry and chemical engineering.

With petroleum prices spiraling upward, making synthetic fuels-or "synfuels"-from coal, natural gas, and biomass has become more economically competitive. Advanced energy companies now focus exclusively on alternative fuels, and many oil companies have programs dedicated to developing synthetic fuels. The Fischer-Tropsch process, which uses a colle

Fischer-Tropsch Technology is a unique book for its state-of-the-art approach to Fischer Tropsch (FT) technology. This book provides an explanation of the basic principles and terminology that are required to understand the application of FT technology. It also contains comprehensive references to patents and previous publications. As the first publication to focus on theory and application, it is a contemporary reference source for students studying chemistry and chemical engineering. Researchers and engineers active in the development of FT technology will also find this book an invaluable source of information. * Is the first publication to cover the theory and application for modern Fischer Tropsch technology * Contains comprehensive knowledge on all aspects relevant to the application of Fischer Tropsch technology* No other publication looks at past, present and future applications

This book, the outgrowth of a graduate course the authors taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was designed to fill an urgent need—the training of engineers in the production of synthetic fuels to replace dwindling supplies of natural ones. The authors presented synthetic fuels as a unified engineering subject, while recognizing that many of its principles are well-understood aspects of various engineering fields. The presentation begins with a review of chemical and physical fundamentals and conversion fundamentals, and proceeds to coal gasification and gas upgrading. Subsequent chapters examine liquids and clean solids produced from coal, liquids obtained from oil shale and tar sands, biomass conversion, and environmental, economic, and related aspects of synthetic fuel use. The text is directed toward beginning graduate students and advanced undergraduates in chemical and mechanical engineering, but should also appeal to students from other disciplines, including environmental, mining, petroleum, and industrial engineering, as well as chemistry. It also serves as a reference and guide for professionals.

The development and use of sustainable and alternative fuels (syngas, biogas, biodiesel, bio-oil, hydrogen) derived from sources other than petroleum is needed due to the limited fossil fuel resources, the need for reduction of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions, energy security, and to meet the future high energy demand due to population growth. New alternative fuels that can be produced locally and derived from renewable sources will be more sustainable compared to fossil fuels. Alternative and renewable fuels can be produced using different thermochemical and bio-chemical processes. Gasification is a thermochemical process used to produce syngas fuel (mainly hydrogen and carbon dioxide) from renewable (biomass) and conventional (coal) sources. The syngas fuels produced from the gasification process can be used for different applications: power generation (combustion of syngas fuel in gas turbine engines), heating, and transportation (internal combustion engines). This book intends to provide the reader with an overview of the current technologies, methods, and strategies of syngas fuel production, characterization, and application.

Provides an overview of the different pathways to produce Synthetic Natural Gas Covers technological, and economic aspects of this Synthetic Natural Gas Details the most popular technologies and state-of-the-art of SNG technologies while also covering recent and future research trends Covers the main process steps during conversion of coal and dry biomass to SNG: gasification, gas cleaning, methanation and gas upgrading Describes a number of novel processes for the production of SNG with their specific combination of process steps as well as the boundary conditions Covers important technical aspects of Power-to-Gas processes

"Syngas is the name given to a gas mixture that contains varying amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Examples of production methods include steam reforming of natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen, the gasification of coal and in some types of waste-to-energy gasification facilities. Syngas is also used as an intermediate in producing synthetic petroleum for use as a fuel or lubricant via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and previously the Mobil methanol to gasoline process. Syngas consists primarily of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and very often some carbon dioxide, and has less than half the energy density of natural gas. It is combustible and often used as a fuel source or as an intermediate for the production of other chemicals. This new book gathers the latest research from around the globe in this dynamic field covering topics such as syngas production from biomass generated gases, recent developments of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts, syngas cleaning technologies, and new syngas utilizations at different stages of deployment."--Publisher's description.