Assessing the Economic Impact of Two-Stage Liquefaction Process Improvements.

摘要

The economic impact of demonstrated and projected improvements in two-stage direct coal liquefaction processes is evaluated. The computerized methodology employed estimates the quantity and quality of products from a 30,000 ton/day commercial scale plant, based on input test data. Steam, hydrogen and fuel gas balances are determined. Capital and operating costs are then estimated, and the required selling price of raw liquid products is determined by conventional discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis. Product quality is quantified by computing the cost of upgrading the raw products to motor gasoline. Improvements in two-stage processing since the early demonstration of the Lummus Integrated Two-Stage (ITSL) process in 1980 are shown to reduce the required initial selling price (RISP) of gasoline from coal liquids by about 16 percent. Further process improvements that offer the potential for an additional 15 percent RISP reduction are identified. This report also compares the economics of two-stage processing with earlier studies of the H-Coal, Exxon Donor Solvent and Lummus ITSL processes. The high costs of coal liquids found in these earlier studies are explained and revised costs for these earlier plants using a common financial and technical basis are determined. 17 refs., 12 figs., 28 tabs. (ERA citation 13:056027)