Abstract |
The paper discusses an evaluation of the Hydrocarb process for conversion of carbonaceous raw material to clean carbon and methanol products. As fuel, methanol and carbon can be used economically, either independently or in slurry form, in efficient heat engines (turbines and internal combustion engines) for both mobile and stationary single and combined cycle power plants. When considering carbon dioxide (CO2) emission control in the utilization of fossil fuels, the coprocessing of those fossil fuels with biomass (which may include wood, municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge) is a viable mitigation approach. By coprocessing both types of feedstock to produce methanol and carbon, while sequestering all or part of the carbon, a significant net CO2 reduction is achieved if the methanol is substituted for petroleum fuels in the transportation sector. Biomass removes CO2 from the atmosphere by photosynthesis and is thus a prime feedstock for mitigation of CO2 emission from mobile sources. Since the availability of biomass will, in most cases, determine the amount of petroleum that can be displaced, it is essential to obtain maximum yield of fuel in the conversion process. |