Schweitzer's Plan of Coal to Diesel Fuel
The processing steps are several, and potential environmental burdens real, yet, according to a recent Reuters story, the Governor of Montana "wants to solve America's rising energy costs using a technology discovered in Germany 80 years ago that converts coal into gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. The Fischer-Tropsch technology, discovered by German researchers in 1923 and later used by the Nazis to convert coal into wartime fuels, was not economical as long as oil cost less than $30 a barrel...But with U.S. crude oil now hitting more than double that price, Gov. Brian Schweitzer's plan is getting more attention across the country and some analysts are taking him very seriously". Apparently Governer Schweitzer feels that "Montana could supply the entire United States with its aviation, gas and diesel fuel for 40 years without creating environmental damage". Right.
According to the South African firm Sasol's website, the only continuous commercially successful application of the Fischer-Tropsch technology to coal gas has been done by them. Sasol's material states that: “Sasol has pioneered the commercial application of Fischer-Tropsch technology since the early 1950s when we built our first petrochemical plant at Sasolburg and began producing fuel based synfuels and chemicals. This pioneering spirit has resulted in Sasol being recognised as a global technology and innovation leader, and we are now poised to deliver the world's cleanest diesel early in 2006, when our first international commercial scale gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant at Doha in Qatar commences production,” says Sasol chief executive, Pat Davies".
this hypothetical list does not reflect on any specific patented, or trademarked coal conversion process, either pro or con.
*Dig coal.
*Sort, crush, grade and clean it, disposing of the stone and washings, if any.
*Ship to conversion operation.
*Leach coal with strong acid solution if needed, to remove heavy metals and sulfer.
*Treat the acid wash water prior to disposal, producing a heavy metal bearing sludge.
*Generate methane (natural gas) from the coal's carbon content, borrowing hydrogen from water (steam) inside the coal gasification process step.
*Synthesize the "coal gas" (methane) into liquid hydrocarbon fuel (this is the Fisher-Tropfsch process step).*Manage, according to regulations of the governmental entitites where the process is deployed, aqueous waste, waste steam, fly ash, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, coal tar, "char", various sulfer compounds or elemental sulfer, and so on.
*Deliver liquid hydrocarbon fuel to refinery.
*Refine and distribute liquid fuel products.
*Continue to liberally consume hydrocarbon fuels in overpowered cars, SUV's and Mega-Trucks, once freed from the price increases that otherwise would be caused by worsening oil shortages.
The US probably will need to convert coal to liquid fuels. Come to think of it, it's bound to happen in this century (we're fond of the long view). But, setting expectations to a negligible environmental burden is wrong. Every process has its inputs and outputs. And while we're still in reality mode, a 40-year supply won't help our grand children much will it?
Efficiency is where the game needs to start.
According to the South African firm Sasol's website, the only continuous commercially successful application of the Fischer-Tropsch technology to coal gas has been done by them. Sasol's material states that: “Sasol has pioneered the commercial application of Fischer-Tropsch technology since the early 1950s when we built our first petrochemical plant at Sasolburg and began producing fuel based synfuels and chemicals. This pioneering spirit has resulted in Sasol being recognised as a global technology and innovation leader, and we are now poised to deliver the world's cleanest diesel early in 2006, when our first international commercial scale gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant at Doha in Qatar commences production,” says Sasol chief executive, Pat Davies".
this hypothetical list does not reflect on any specific patented, or trademarked coal conversion process, either pro or con.
*Dig coal.
*Sort, crush, grade and clean it, disposing of the stone and washings, if any.
*Ship to conversion operation.
*Leach coal with strong acid solution if needed, to remove heavy metals and sulfer.
*Treat the acid wash water prior to disposal, producing a heavy metal bearing sludge.
*Generate methane (natural gas) from the coal's carbon content, borrowing hydrogen from water (steam) inside the coal gasification process step.
*Synthesize the "coal gas" (methane) into liquid hydrocarbon fuel (this is the Fisher-Tropfsch process step).*Manage, according to regulations of the governmental entitites where the process is deployed, aqueous waste, waste steam, fly ash, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, coal tar, "char", various sulfer compounds or elemental sulfer, and so on.
*Deliver liquid hydrocarbon fuel to refinery.
*Refine and distribute liquid fuel products.
*Continue to liberally consume hydrocarbon fuels in overpowered cars, SUV's and Mega-Trucks, once freed from the price increases that otherwise would be caused by worsening oil shortages.
The US probably will need to convert coal to liquid fuels. Come to think of it, it's bound to happen in this century (we're fond of the long view). But, setting expectations to a negligible environmental burden is wrong. Every process has its inputs and outputs. And while we're still in reality mode, a 40-year supply won't help our grand children much will it?
Efficiency is where the game needs to start.
posted by Coleman Investments, LLC at 4:36 PM
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