The Power Systems Development Facility at Wilsonville, Alabama

One of the Morgantown Energy Technology Center`s (METC`s) goals is to: {open_quotes}Commercialize Advanced Power Systems with improved environmental performance, higher efficiency, and lower cost. {close_quotes} Advanced coal-based power generation systems include Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC), Pressurized Fluidized- Bed Combustion (PFBC), and Integrated Gasification/Fuel Cell systems. The strategy for achieving this goal includes: (1) Show the improved performance and lower cost of Advanced Power Systems through successful Clean Coal Technology demonstration projects, (2) Build and operate Technology Integration Sites in partnership with U.S. Industry (these sites will resolve key technology issues and effect continuous product improvement, and these partnerships result in leveraging of research and development (R&D) funds), and (3) Set up partnerships with other agencies and organizations such as Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to leverage R&D funds and skills. Demonstration of practical high-temperature particulate control devices (PCD`s) is crucial to the evolution of advanced, high- efficiency coal-based power generation systems. There are stringent particulate requirements for the fuel gas for both turbines and fuel cells. In turbines, the particulates cause erosion and chemical attack of the blade surfaces. In fuel cells, the particulates cause blinding of the electrodes. Filtration of the incoming, hot, pressurized gas is required to protect these units. Although filtration can presently be performed by first cooling the gas, the system efficiency is reduced. Development of high temperature, high pressure filtration is necessary to achieve high efficiency and extend the lifetime of downstream components to acceptable levels

Heavy recycle solvent studies in two-stage coal liquefaction. Final technical report, September 1, 1982-December 30, 1983

The objective of this program has been to study the chemistry of the components with high boiling points in a direct coal liquefaction recycle solvent and to identify those components which lead to higher overall yields and improved product stability in the initial coal dissolution step of direct coal liquefaction processes. The major conclusions are: -454 C recycle solvent is primarily aromatic hydrocarbons (73%) and contains almost no asphaltenes; +454 C recycle solvent is primarily asphaltenes and aromatic hydrocarbons; recycle solvent also contains aliphatic hydrocarbons, N-containing aromatics and O-containing aromatics; heteroatoms in coal derived materials seem to be grouped by type, i.e. acidic O and basic N and sulfur occur together; under helium a small net amount of hydrogen and more CO and CO/sub 2/ are produced than under hydrogen; under hydrogen the amounts of H/sub 2/S and hydrocarbon gases are increased and a small amount of hydrogen gas is usually consumed; overall coal conversions to THF solubles are improved by adding more -454 C solvent but decreased by adding +454 C solvent; for added fractions of -454 C solvent the pecent conversion to THF solubles increases in the order aromatic hydrocarbons (+7.2) > aliphatic hydrocarbons (+0.8) > no added solvent (0.0) > N-containing aromatics (-0.9) > O-containing aromatics (-22.1); percent conversion to THF solubles using -454 C solvent with +454 C solvent fractions added decrease in the order aliphatics (+3.7) > aromatic hydrocarbons (+3.0) > no added solvent (0.0) > O-containing aromatics (-9.3) > N-containing aromatics (-13.3); of the +454 C solvent components, aromatic hydrocarbons and aliphatic hydrocarbons are beneficial but total only approx. 25% of the +454 C recycle solvent; and steric effects may be important in determining the effectiveness of the heavier solvent components as liquefaction solvents. 28 references, 25 figures, 31 tables

Synthetic fuel aromaticity and staged combustion

Samples of middle and heavy SRC-II distillates were distilled into 50 C boiling point range fractions. These were characterized by measurements of their molecular weight, elemental analysis and basic nitrogen content and calculation of average molecular structures. The structures typically consisted of 1 to 3 aromatic rings fused to alicyclic rings with short, 1 to 3 carbon aliphatic side chains. The lower boiling fractions contained significant amounts (1 atom/molecule) of oxygen while the heavier fractions contained so few heteroatoms that they were essentially hydrocarbons. Laboratory scale oxidative-pyrolysis experiments were carried out at pyrolysis temperatures of 500 to 1100 C and oxygen concentrations from 0 to 100 percent of stoichiometry. Analysis of liquid products, collected in condensers cooled with liquid nitrogen showed that aromatization is a major reaction in the absence of oxygen. The oxygen-containing materials (phenolics) seem to be more resistant to thermal pyrolysis than unsubstituted aromatics. Nitrogen converts from basic to nonbasic forms at about 500 C. The nonbasic nitrogen is more stable and survives up to 700 C after which it is slowly removed. A recently constructed 50,000 Btu/hr staged combustor was used to study the chemistry of the nitrogen and aromatics. SRC II combustion was studied under fuel-rich, first-stage conditions at air/fuel ratios from 0.6 to 1.0 times stoichiometric. The chemistry of the fuel during combustion calls for further investigation in order to examine the mechanism by which HCN is evolved as a common intermediate for the formation of the nitrogen-containing gaseous combustion products. 25 references, 45 figures, 25 tables

Thermophysical properties of coal liquids. Final report. [300 to 600 K]

Thermophysical properties for coal-solvent slurries were determined in the range 300 to 600 K, in some cases extending to 700 K. Density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and enthalpy were determined. A recycle solvent from the Wilsonville SRC-I plant and a KY-9 coal were used. Rheology was studied with a reciprocating cylinder viscometer designed to operate at elevated pressure and temperature. Viscous properties were found to follow the Bingham plastic model. A high-viscosity peak in the range 500 to 600 K was characterized by very high values of yield stress. At other temperatures the slurries were nearly Newtonian. Time and temperature dependence of viscous behavior were studied. Densities were determined by high temperature pyknometer, thermal conductivities by the transient line-source technique, and enthalpies by drop calorimeter and by pressure DSC