Economics of the circular-grate coal gasification process. Topical final report

The study presented in this report was performed as a separate task in a project entitled, ''The Development and Evaluation of the Circular Grate Gasifier Concept.'' The work involved a preliminary design and examination of the economics of a commercial-sized Circular-Grate coal gasification facility. The specific objectives of the study were to prepare preliminary engineering designs and cost estimates for two facilities, one that will process Western bituminous coals and a second that will process high-sulfur Eastern bituminous coals, and to compare the expected costs of these facilities with those of other gasifiers and alternatives. Capital and operating cost estimates were developed for several sizes of Circular-Grate coal gasification plants. For a relatively small facility, processing Eastern high-sulfur coal and suitable for small industrial applications (100 MM Btu/hr), the estimated capital cost was $10.0 million and the estimated annual operating cost was about $3.36 million. Such a facility would produce a low-Btu gas at a cost of about $3.96 per million Btu. For a very large facility, suitable for supplying fuel gas to a 500 MW powerplant (6250 MM Btu/hr), the estimated capital cost, annual operating cost, and fuel gas cost were $191 million, $133 million, and $2.50 per millionmore » Btu, respectively. These costs compare very favorably with costs of other coal gasification process facilities. The expected fuel gas costs are significantly lower than present natural gas and fuel oil prices. The Circular-Grate coal gasification process appears to be only about one half as costly as a typical flue-gas desulfurization process for controlling sulfur emissions. 10 refs., 10 figs., 8 tabs.« less