Assessment of utility impact of electrification in the US chemical industry

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the possible impact on the utility industry of electroorganic processes that might be used in the period to 1995 instead of conventional chemical processes. A search of the literature turned up 27 potential candidates with a minimum US production of 10 million pounds in 1980. Nine of these compounds were selected for more detailed consideration. Demand and capacity projections were made to establish the need for new plants in the period to 1995. The energy consumption per pound of product and the capacity deficit were used to project the possible base load power demand for each product. Technical and economic factors were next considered. Even with the incomplete data available on most of the electroorganic processes, it is clear that the ones considered cannot compete with chemical processes with the exception of adiponitrile and possible ethylene glycol. The production of acetylene from coal by an arc process, though not electrochemical, was included in this study. It is the only process considered that offers the possibility of a large base-load power demand for a single plant and economic viability. This study shows that electroorganic processes are in an early stage of development. Amore » detailed consideration of some processes to see what improvements might be made by the application of creative electroorganic and process engineering could serve as guidelines for future research and development which may have a favorable impact on the electric utility industry in the future.« less