Posted on 03/04/2007 5:03:09 PM PST by nypokerface
"Coal Gas"
We've had a DOE gassification pilot operation in Kingsport for a long time.
The Eastman technology is already a mature technology and has been for 25 years.
They still require more energy than the end product produces.
That obversation is moot. They transform the coal gas into a myraid of products on which modern life is pretty much dependant.
In most cases they are the low cost producer
I agree. And the subsidies are nothing but pure pork.
Not a booddoogle.
A perfectly viable business as long as oil prices are high enough. What is high enough, now there is the question.
One good thing I will say about this program, at least they are not making fuel from food. Another good thing is that the money goes to farmers, ranch workers, wood producers and plant workers and not to some thug third-world dictator.
Hitler nearly took over Europe burning synthetic diesel in his tanks. South Africa lived for years on synthetic petroleum.
If nothing else, the Arabs fear that something like this will take their power away.
Like that pill you drop into the gas tank full of water and then drive off in the car with the carburetor that gets 100 miles to the gallon, riding on four tires that never wear out.
Welcome to entropy.
It takes more coal energy to make electrical energy.
It takes more electrical energy that you get light from the light bulb.
The goal is to take low order energy that is not useful and create a higher order energy that is useful.
You have no use for coal dust but have a great need for electricity. You have no need for corn stubble but have a great need for liquid fuel.
There is a company using plasma arc to gasify garbage. They are not using governement money and they are making a profit selling their product. Their buyers are making a profit in reduced landfill cost and using the syngas to generate electricity. Right now the most feasible place in America for their technology is NYC but are having problems with corupt politicians. The mob makes alot of money in the garbage business. I personally think it would make more sense making liquid fuel instead of burning the syngas because coal is cheap and liquid fuel is expensive.
Agreed. We've barely scratched the surface of the possibilities of this technology.
A few too any pills back in your teen years I see...
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