2937.     RUHL, O.  [Liquid-Fuel Problems in Germany.]  Jour. Fuel Soc. Japan, vol. 16, 1937, pp. 33-40.

        Review of German developments in the I. G. coal-hydrogenation process and the Fischer process.  By the latter process 1 m.³ CO+2 H₂ (90%) produces in practice 100 gm. liquid products; about ½ of the H₂ in the gas mixture is converted to H₂O.  the theoretical limit of production is 180 gm. of liquid products from 1 m.³ CO+2 H₂.  As 0.8 kg. of coal corresponding to 0.55 kg. coke is used in the production of 1 m.³ CO+2 H₂, it follows that theoretically 35%, at most, of the heat value of the coal can be converted into liquid products, while in practice the figure is about 20%.  Much steam also is produced, which is not included in the efficiency.  The smallest economical size of Fischer plant is about 20,000 tons of gasoline per year.  Plants at Ruhland, Rauxel, Holten, and Homberg have a capacity of 295,000 tons of gasoline per yr.  Besides these plants, Kuhlmann in France is planning an installation of 30,000 tons capacity, and in Japan the Mitsui Co. is erecting a plant of 30,000 tons capacity.  Two other plants are planned.  installation costs for the high pressure process and the Fischer process are about the same, and the cost of operation does not differ greatly.  If gasoline is the main object, the high-pressure process operates most economically.