MANUFACTURE OF HYDROGEN FROM COAL.

This paper describes three process designs developed for the conversion of Montana subbituminous coal to hydrogen based on three different gasifier technologies - Koppers-Totzek suspension gasification; U-GAS fluidized-bed gasification; and Fluidized Steam-Iron Process. For comparison with methane from coal, a fourth design, based on the HYGAS Process, has been prepared. Nominal plant capacitiets are 250 billion Btu/day of product gas. Overall plant efficiencies for conversion of coal to major gaseous products plus by-products are: Koppers-Totzek - 57. 0%; U-GAS - 66. 4%; Steam-Iron - 62. 6% (Includes 18% by-product electricity); HYGAS - 74. 0%. product liquefaction requirements are presented. Capital and operating costs (mid-1974) are presented for U-GAS and HYGAS. On the basis of the processes studied here, conversion of coal to methane is more efficient and less expensive than its conversion to hydrogen.