(534d) Development of a Modular Coal/Biomass to Fischer-Tropsch Liquids Research Facility

U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology (US DOE NETL), funded this experimental work to design, build, and operate a coal-to-liquids (CTL) and coal-biomass to liquids (CBTL) facility with production capabilities of one-barrel per day of liquid fuel. The overarching objective of this project was to implement modular design and complete construction of the facility at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (UKy-CAER). The facility consists of a coal/biomass preparation to finished fuels process train including: feedstock handling and processing, gasification, water-gas shift, acid gas cleanup, and Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) units. The plant complex also includes ancillary systems for power generation, utilities, effluent treatment, ash disposal, and an automated control system. In order to maximize flexibility, the facility is of a modular design with skid mounted process units – and is intended to be adaptable to change-out of equipment and capabilities. The know-how, show-how associated with the facility is the expected key benefit, which can be used as a test bed for new concepts, and can be repurposed quickly to meet needs of early-stage technology at a level of expenditure that is affordable. Environmental considerations, particularly how to manage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from CTL and CBTL facilities and from use of the fuels, is a collateral objective of the research.

The focus of this presentation will be on the development of the modular process units including design specifications, construction/installation progress and initial testing data, as well as the lessons learned during the project execution. Skids containing feed preparation, gasification, acid gas removal as well as the combined water gas shift and F-T module have been installed and tested. Process data and results from the first full system campaign such as, syngas and F-T product quality, acid gas removal effectiveness, and operational developments will be presented. The outcomes from commissioning and initial trial will be also presented.