OPPORTUNITIES FOR COAL TO METHANOL CONVERSION

The accumulations of mining residues in the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania offer a unique opportunity to convert the coal content into methanol that could be utilized in that area as an alternative to gasoline or to extend the supplies through blending. Additional demand may develop through the requirements of public utility gas turbines located in that region. The cost to run this refuse through coal preparation plants may result in a clean coal at about $17.00 per ton. After gasification and synthesis in a 5000 ton per day facility, a cost of methanol of approximately $3.84 per million Btu is obtained using utility financing. If the coal is to be brought in by truck or rail from a distance of approximately 60 miles, the cost of methanol would range between $4.64 and $5.50 per million Btu depending upon the mode of transportation. The distribution costs to move the methanol from the synthesis plant to the pump could add, at a minimum, $2.36 per million Btu to the cost. In total, the delivered cost at the pump for methanol produced from coal mining wastes could range between $6.20 and $7.86 per million Btu. (ERA citation 05:037796)

• Corporate Authors:

  American Energy Research Company

  McLean, VA  United States  22101

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Publication Date: 1980-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 80 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol fuels; Alcohols; Alternate fuels; Anthracite; Chemical reactions; Coal; Coal gasification; Coal industry; Coal mining; Coal processing; Demand; Energy; Energy resources; Feasibility analysis; Freight traffic; Gases; Methanol; Minerals; Motor fuels; Prices; Recycling; Salvage; Socioeconomic factors; Syntheses; Synthesis (Chemistry); Synthetics; Wastes
• Geographic Terms: Pennsylvania
• Old TRIS Terms: Coal preparation; Energy demand; Fuel sources; Mineral wastes; Synthesis gas; Texaco gasification process
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Railroads; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00328497
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Contract Numbers: AC01-79CS50009
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 15 1981 12:00AM