Cost of Liquid Fuels from Coal. Part III. Methanol and Methanol-Derived Gasoline

摘要

This part of the study on the cost of liquid fuels from coal deals with the production of turbine-grade methanol, and of high-octane gasoline from methanol. In methanol production, coal is gasified, purified, adjusted in chemical composition and the resulting synthesis gas converted over a suitable catalyst. The crude methanol thus formed can be distilled to turbine-grade methanol or converted to gasoline using the Mobil MTG process. Production of these fuels using both dry-ash Lurgi and Texaco gasifiers is evaluated. The former gasifier involves either reforming of the methane produced to give additional synthesis gas or co-production as SNG. Coals considered are Illinois No. 6 and Wandoan (from Queensland, Australia), representing high-sulphur bituminous coal and low-sulphur sub-bituminous coal, respectively. The report concludes that neither methanol nor methanol-derived gasoline produced from coal currently competes with oil-based products if a commercial rate-of-return on equity is required. However, at low rates-of-return, methanol from imported hard coal or West German lignite approaches competitiveness. Methanol from coal is some 20 to 30% cheaper than methanol-derived gasoline. Whether such a differential is sufficient to encourage the use of methanol as an alternative transport fuel remains to be seen. 29 references, 8 figures, 9 tables. (ERA citation 09:025633)