TITLE: Economic Evaluation of the Coproduction of Methanol and Electricity with Texaco Gasification-Combined-Cycle Systems. Final Report.

AUTHOR: R. E. Brown;   R. C. Delaney;   W. W. Hsu;   R. H. Ravikumar;   S. C. Smelser.

INST.  AUTHOR: Fluor Engineers and Constructors, Inc., Irvine, CA.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DEP],  Jan 82,  229p.

ABSTRACT:

This study evaluates process and cost reduction options for the  production of methanol fuel for peaking and intermediate load generating units. Methanol is coproduced with electricity in this study from medium Btu gas generated in an oxygen blown Texaco-based Gasification Combined-Cycle (GCC) plant firing Illinois No. 6 coal. The Chem Systems liquid phase methanol process is used in a once-through configuration where the unconverted reactor effluent is used for gas turbine fuel. The cost of methanol was determined by first calculating the revenue requirements of a Texaco-based GCC plant without methanol coproduction. The methanol coproduction case was then credited with those electricity revenues and the remaining revenues required (in excess of the electricitycredit) then represented the revenue requirement for methanol coproduction. The gasification facilities are similar in most respects to Case EXTC-79 published in EPRI Report No. AP-1624, except the gasification plant pressure has been increased from 600 psig used previously to 1000 psig in order to match the methanol synthesis requirements. This change in operating pressure was found not to be a significant factor on system efficiency or capital cost. Coproduction of methanol in a Chem Systems once-through plant configuration shows a potential 30% first year savings over the nonregulated, dedicated coal-to-methanol plant employing currently commercial technology. The once-through scheme described in this report exists only at the experimental level.

REPORT  NUMBER: EPRI-AP-2212