The primary purpose was to display the cost analysis data in such a way that it is readily adaptable to a large variety of real or hypothetical situations of heat or power generation so that direct comparisons can be made of the pollution control cost in specific situations by the use of solvent refined coal to that of any other projected system for which control cost information is available. The heat content of SRC is considerably higher than the coal from which it is made and hence shipping costs are lower on an equivalent thermal basis. This is approximately 16,000 Btu/lb, which exceeds high quality anthracite or bituminous coal. Combustion chamber corrosion and slagging problems are directly reduced by its use. Since solvent refined coal can be liquified by heating and/or increasing its residual solvent oil content, there exists the option of firing as solid coal or as fuel oil. Lastly it is essentially a 'fail-safe' pollution control process so far as the combustion unit is concerned, since no unusual SO2 pollution can be emitted due to breakdown or bypassing of equipment, as could occur with processes that cleanse combustion products. The potential market for solvent refined coal is difficult to predict largely because its use requires a long-term commitment on the part of producers to process it and on the part of the users, primarily the electric power utilities, to consume it. A level of production necessary for economy requires this. A processing cost of no more than 10 cents/MMBtu to convert bituminous coal to SRC should allow price-competitive access to over 60% of the current bituminous coal-fired combustion unit market. (Author)

"Sponsoring agency: National Air Pollution Control Administration Technical Center." "Contract no. CPA 22-69-82." Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-48). Microfiche.