| Abstract: | Coal conversion is currently not economically viable and its commercialization is not advisable. Both liquefaction and gasification for converting coal to synfuels are hydrogen-enrichment processes. The theoretical yield and efficiency of coal conversion are constrained by hydrogen stoichiometry and cannot be improved through research. Coal conversion is capitalintensive, with capital charges ranging from 40 to over 60% of the total cost. Hydrogen generation and gasification are particularly expensive but may be amenable to cost reduction through research.Coal conversion is most promising for transportation fuels, particularly high-octane gasoline and diesel fuel. Development of utility centers to provide steam, fuel, and electricity to industrial complexes and to commercial and residential communities through cogeneration could soon make coal conversion technology economically viable in some areas.Research efforts should concentrate on generating and testing novel ideas in bench-scale units. Proven ideas can be further developed on a large scale as needed. For large-scale engineering studies, the unit operations approach can be employed without tying the research to a specific process. |
