Funder: CEC - Coal and Steel RFCS-01-2015
Duration: 01 July 2016 to 30 June 2019
Staff Involved: Dr Y Huang
The main goal of the proposed research was to improve the viability and environmental performance of direct coal liquefaction (DCL) by providing a framework where it can develop in the EU without the need for extremely large-scale plant and with a focus on low-rank and perhydrous coals that provide the highest conversions at lowest cost. The research will establish a distributed approach to DCL that will enable it to be introduced as a technology suitable for coprocessing a variety of wastes, including plastics, tyres and bio-wastes which can thermally decompose into effective solvents. The two primary conversion routes will be investigated to optimise the use of wastes and co-feeds are (i) the use solvents with some H-donor properties without hydrogen pressure and (ii) the use of waste and non-donor solvents with added hydrogen pressure with means for in-situ generation being investigated. The primary liquefaction products will then be assessed for co-processing with petroleum feedstocks in existing refinery facilities with a test programme involving both catalytic cracking and hydrocracking with hydro-isomerisation of the naphtha produced from both processes.