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Literature Abstracts
1509. HUBMANN, O. Production of Synthesis Gas From Wyoming Subbituminous Coal. General Investigation of Methods and Flowsheet for Plant to Process Eight Million Cubic Feet per Day. Bureau of Mines Spec. Rept., ov. 1946, 23 pp.; TOM Reel 242, Rept. 9.
To obtain general information on the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of producing synthesis gas from a coal like the Wyoming coal, 4 methods are considered suitable for treating this coal, and calculations are made of the investment and production costs for a plant with a capacity of 100,000 N m.3 per hr. of synthesis gas. The high content of H2 of Wyoming coal promises very high tar content and consequently very favorable conditions for utilizing it for producing motor fuels by a combination of carbonization, byproduct gasification with the synthesis of hydrocarbons, and hydrogenation of tar. The 4 methods investigated are: Lurgi pressure gasification; combined carbonization-gasification with O2 and with burning of the coke and cracking of the carbonization gas; the same with use of air in the 1st step and O2 in the 2d, with burning of the carbonization gas and gasification of the coke; and the Koppers complete gasification of powdered coal. Cost of equipment is taken from figures available from German sources. Corresponding figures for the United States are calculated with the ratio of 1 RM : $0.50 for the investment cost and 1 RM : $1.00 for the cost of labor, with a rough adjustment for special work.
Investment costs and production figures for 100,000 N m.3/hr. of synthesis gas
|
I Gasification of pulverized coal (Koppers) |
II Lurgi pressure gasification |
III Carbonization with O1, gasification with O2 |
IV Carbonization with air gasification with O2 |
|
Investment cost: Million RM............................. Million dollars......................... |
49.5 24.75 |
54.0 27.0 |
50.2 25.1 |
46.6 23.3 |
|
Coal consumption, tons per year |
740,000 |
945,000 |
995,000 |
925,000 |
|
Laborers................................... |
420 |
600 |
550 |
450 |
|
Wages: Million RM............................. Million dollars......................... |
1.05 1.05 |
1.5 1.5 |
1.37 1.37 |
1.13 1.13 |
|
% of production cost................. |
11.0 20 |
13.5 24.5 |
12.8 23.4 |
11.5 21.5 |
|
Production cost per year: Million RM............................. Million dollars......................... |
9.6 5.18 |
11.4 6.13 |
10.66 5.81 |
9.79 5.27 |
|
Tar production, tons per year.... |
|
44,200 |
65,800 |
60,500 |
|
Value of tar: Million RM............................. Million dollars........................... |
|
4.86 1.33 |
6.58 1.65 |
6.05 1.51 |
|
% of production cost................. |
|
43.5 21.6 |
62.0 28.3 |
62.0 28.5 |
|
Production cost, 1,000 N m.3 Million RM............................. Million Dollars......................... |
10.9 5.9 |
7.2 5.40 |
4.60 4.70 |
4.24 4.25 |
Further calculations on 3 so-called pioneer plants A, B, and C: Carbonization gas-producer plant; Koppers pulverized-coal gasification; and Lurgi pressure gasification give production costs per 1,000 N m.3 on the basis of capacities of 8,000,000 cu. ft. of ideal gas per day and 320 operating days, respectively, of $9.30, $11.80, and $11.50. Here again the combined carbonization-gasification method is found to be the most favorable one. It is proposed to erect 2 units of carbonization-gasification type with the necessary equipment for operating each of the units for the production of gas as well as for the carbonization of coal and the production of coke as this seems the safest, the cheapest, and the most flexible method with respect tot he requirements of a pilot-experimental plant, which should be able to handle various types of coal from such standpoints as tar recovery and alteration of the CO:H2 ratio. It also might prove an economical method for the treatment of oil shales with more than 10% of oil.