Synthetic liquid fuels: prospects for innovative technologies based on underground coal gasification

The growing demand for energy, the depletion of oil and gas reserves, and the threat of global climate change have led to an increase in interest in underground coal gasification technologies (UCG) around the world. The potential for using underground gasification of low-grade coal resources with complex mining and geological conditions is huge. The main challenge is the development of competitive technologies for the production of synthesis gas and production of electricity, heat, and synthetic liquid fuels on its basis. The paper presents a study of one of the promising areas of the use of UCG gas for the combined production of synthetic liquid fuel (methanol) and electricity. A mathematical model of the installation for combined production of methanol and electricity (ICPME) was developed. Based on this mathematical model, a technical and economic optimization of the parameters was carried out to assess the prospects of the scale of application of this coal processing method. The purpose of research conducted using the mathematical models of the ICPME is to determine the optimal parameters of the installation and the sensitivity of its economic performance indicators to changes in external conditions

Modular plants for combined biomass-based production of electricity and synthetic liquid fuel

The high costs of qualified liquid fuels in remote areas of Siberia and the Far East, as well as significant stocks of wood biomass in these areas determine the relevance of the presented studies. The integrated processing of woody biomass into synthetic liquid fuel and electricity will increase the energy and economic efficiency of processing technological waste, as well as improve the environmental situation in these areas. The aim of the work is technical and economic optimization of parameters modular installations of the combined production of electricity and methanol from woody biomass. The article presents an analysis of previously performed work on the topic of research and, based on them, selected one of the most effective ways to process wood biomass - oxidative conversion of this raw material to produce gas enriched in hydrogen and carbon oxides, synthesis of qualified liquid fuels and generating electricity when burning purge gas synthesis process. The technological scheme of modular plants for combined biomass-based production of electricity and synthetic liquid fuel, its mathematical model of its elements and the scheme as a whole are given. On the basis of the selected methods, optimization studies of the operation of a modular energy technology installation were carried out. Analysis of the results showed that the combined production of electricity and methanol based on biomass increases the thermal efficiency of the process by 12% and reduces investment by 15-20% compared with separate production. With an internal rate of return of capital of 15%, the cost of methanol from biomass will be 275-317 dollars per ton. At such a cost, methanol can compete with both boiler-furnace and motor fuels in the eastern regions of Russia

Analysis of the efficiency of energy systems of long-distance energy transport

The article presents the results of the comparative efficiency of energy systems for the transfer of natural gas energy over long distances from large deposits to final consumers. The result of the research is the limits of competitiveness of systems based on direct current transmissions, gas pipelines, a promising technology for converting natural gas to synthetic liquid fuel (SLF) methanol on installations of combined production of SLF and electricity based on their detailed mathematical models