3119.     ---------------.  [SCHROEDER, W. C.]  Synthetic Fuel Production.  Petrol. Eng., Refining Gas Processing Sec., vol. 22, No. 5, 1950, pp. A53, A56, A60, A64, A66, A68.

        Recent progress in the production of synthetic liquid fuel by pressure coal hydrogenation, Fischer-Tropsch process and retorting of oil shale is reported.  Active study of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process centers around the production of synthesis gas and development of reaction chambers with high production capacity.  3 types are under investigation:  The 1^st uses a fluidized catalyst with removal of heat by circulation of cooling water; the 2d uses a fixed-bed catalyst, either pelleted or granulated, immersed in oil to control the temperature; the 3d uses a finely powdered catalyst suspended in an oil bath and cooled by heat exchange.  Intensive studies are being made of the coal-hydrogenation process to raise the thermal efficiency above the possible present practical range of 45-50%.  The dry hydrogenation of coal also is receiving considerable development study.  In the oil shale demonstration plant, mining methods and equipment have been developed to assure low-cost production.  3 retorting methods are being studied:  The gas flow retort of the Bureau of Mines, the fluid-flow unit of the Standard Oil Development Co. and the internally fired underfeed retort of the Union Oil Co. of California.  It is expected that 1 or more of these methods will be found suitable for economical retorting of American oil shales.