HIGH LIQUID YIELDS WITH LOW HYDROGEN CONSUMPTION IN DIRECT COAL LIQUEFACTION

A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON A NOVEL APPROACH TO COAL LIQUEFACTION THAT PRODUCES HIGH LIQUID YIELDS AND PROMISES LOW COST. THE PROCESS APPROACH PROMISES AN OVERALL LIQUID YIELD OF 65% OR GREATER FROM A SUB-BITUMINOUS COAL. RATIOS OF LIQUID TO HYDROCARBON GAS ARE GREATER THAN 10:1, RESULTING IN LOW HYDROGEN CONSUMPTION. THE THEORETICAL BASIS AND LABORATORY EVIDENCE ARE NOW SUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED TO WARRANT EXAMINATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PROMISING COAL-LIQUEFICATION APPROACH. THE PHASE I EVALUATION CONSISTS OF THE DESIGN OF A CONCEPTUAL COMMERCIAL FACILITY, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROCESS, AND A COST AND PROFITABILITY PROJECTION. THE FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS WILL IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS OF TECHNICAL, MARKET, AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY THAT REQUIRE FURTHER STUDY (PHASE II) BEFORE PRIVATE INVESTMENT CAN BE ATTRACTED ON A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL (PHASE III).