ECONOMICS OF ALKANE CONVERSION Economic guidelines and techno-economical evaluation of alkane conversion processes

摘要

The conversion of methane and C2-4 alkanes to fuels and chemical intermediates represents a major challenge for the 21SI century. Due to the chemical and therrnodynamic stability of these feedstocks, their upgrading requires expensive manufacturing plants. This paper will review the basics of manufacturing economics and then discuss the economic peculiarities of methane and alkane conversion technologies. On the basis of manufacturing economics, the value of various feedstocks and the importance of energy management on plant costs will be discussed. The economic information disclosed in press releases will then be analysed, showing the clear trade-off between plant and feedstock costs in methane conversion processes, and briefly reviewing the major syngas and non-syngas routes. It will finally look at the C2-4 alkanes as potential chemical feedstock. It will highlight a trade-off between plant and feedstock costs, address the consequences of selectivity and discuss the economic potential of alternative oxidants such as SO3, N2O and H2O2.