Make ammonia from coal

A comparison of the economics of producing ammonia from coal with that from natural gas, naphtha, and heavy fuel oil indicates that coal technology can be adapted to modern synthesis-gas-generating plants and can be competitive in this growing market. After determining that coal can provide the most years of supply at current consumption rates, the technology was shown as available in the current processes being developed for electric power generation from coal. The Texaco process can operate with air, enriched air, or oxygen. This process has been proven in installations using heavy fuel oil, crude oil, and vacuum resid to produce synthesis gas for ammonia, methanol, hydrogen, oxo-synthesis, etc. Residual soot content is <1 ppM. The Union Carbide process, demonstrated in the pilot plant only, was tested to achieve a higher thermal efficiency than the Texaco process; however, neither have been proved on an industrial scale. A comparison of these 2 processes with steam reforming of natural gas and naphtha and partial oxidation of heavy fuel oil indicates that an estimated 31 million Btu of natural gas would be required to provide 1 ton of ammonia in a 2000 ton/day plant. Cost estimations were based on a plant consuming 330,000more » short tons/yr, operating 330 days/yr, and having feedstock costs of $5/ton for coal, 35 cents/million Btu for natural gas, $20/ton for naphtha, or $16/ton for heavy fuel oil.« less