PERSPECTIVES FOR MANUFACTURING METHANOL AT FUEL VALUE

In the past few decades, numerous studies have been carried out on the potential applications of methanol as fuel, for both the transportati on and the power generation sectors. These fuel applications require s ignificant reductions in manufacturing cost, particularly in plant inv estment. The present study evaluates the savings in investment that co uld be achieved by applying various emerging manufacturing technologie s. The most advanced technologies are based on the intermediate produc tion of synthesis gas. They are based on new re-forming technologies o r various ''once-through'' methanol synthesis schemes. The newest manu facturing technologies either proceed via methyl chloride or methyl bi sulfate or apply direct partial oxidation. From our study, we conclude that none of the technologies proposed, whether based on synthesis ga s or not, can offer large savings in investment unless they can be sca led up by a factor 4-8 above the conventional capacity of 2.5 kt/d.