00/01720 Indirect coal liquefaction — where do we stand?

Abstract

Following its discovery by Fischer and Tropsch, the desirability of conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons has undergone many cycles ranging from the view that there was an immediate, urgent need for commercialization to periods of benign neglect. In the 1930s, because Germany did not have an internal source of petroleum, but did have a vast reserve of coal, interest in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) was great. Germany developed a significant synfuels industry prior to and during WWII. However, their total peak production was small-scale in comparison to the US consumption of petroleum today. Furthermore, much of the German transportation fuel was derived from coal tars and direct coal liquefaction rather than from FTS. During WWII, the German FTS production was mainly conducted at atmospheric pressure using cobalt catalysts in fixed-bed reactors. Following WWII there was a perceived shortage of petroleum crude. In many countries, crash programs to develop a synfuels industry were initiated. US officials were among those who recognized the potential limits of petroleum crude. Major efforts were directed toward developing the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis processes in the US. This paper reviews the history of the development of F-T synthesis processes using both coal and natural gas as feedstocks,more » and describes today`s commercial operations, large demonstration plant operations, research by Standard Oil Co. (now Exxon), pilot scale operations, process and economic evaluations, and potential commercial operations. 85 refs., 25 figs.« less