SyntheticFuels3 29 07

Defense Energy Support Center: 

Alternative Fuels Information Station Defense Energy Support Center Product Technology & Standardization Division Synthetic Fuels Tutorial

Learning Objectives: 

Learning Objectives Important definitions around synthetic fuels Why synthetic fuels are needed Some detail on the promising methods of producing synthetic fuels U.S. demand for petroleum products Basic properties of synthetic fuel products You should learn….

DEFINITIONS: 

DEFINITIONS SYNTHETIC FUEL DEFINITIONS

WHAT IS SYNTHETIC FEEDSTOCK?: 

WHAT IS SYNTHETIC FEEDSTOCK? Definitions of Synthetic Fuel Any feedstock NOT produced from conventional petroleum crude. Resource can be any burnable material: Coal Biomass Natural gas Synthetic Fuels Synthetic Feedstock A generic name given to hydrocarbon fuels produced from natural gas, coal, or biomass.

Why are Synthetic Fuels Needed?: 

Why are Synthetic Fuels Needed? World has a finite supply of conventional crude oil U.S. demand for crude oil is steadily increasing The world jet fuel market is decreasing National Security and energy independence Synthetic Fuels help reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil 5 Reasons for continued production and improvement of synthetic fuels

Crude Oil Consumption: 

Crude Oil Consumption Source: EIA (2005) By Sector:

Department of Defense Synthetic Fuel Initiative: 

Department of Defense Synthetic Fuel Initiative DoD’s long term requirement is for 110,000 bbl/day (40 Mbbl/yr) of “neat” synfuel to enable a 50/50 blend Ultimate goal is an assured domestic source of synfuel to replace half of DoD’s domestic jet and Navy distillate consumption in an environmentally compliant manner Synfuel is a replacement for jet fuel (JP-8, JP-5, Jet A, Jet A1), Navy petroleum distillate (NPD, F-76), and diesel (DF)

Synthetic Feedstock Processes: 

Synthetic Feedstock Processes Synthetic Feedstock sources include: Natural Gas to Liquids Coal Gasification: Producing synthetic natural gas from Coal Coal Liquefaction: Conversion of coal to liquid for use as a synthetic fuel 1. 2. 3.

Alternate Sources of Petroleum Crudes: 

Alternate Sources of Petroleum Crudes Alternate crude sources include: Shale Oil: Extracted hydrocarbon known as Kerogen from shale (large shale formations Exist in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming) Tar Sands: Extraction of very heavy, asphalt “like” crude oil called Bitumen from grains of sand, or, in some cases, porous carbonate rocks. The U.S. has some tar sands mainly in Utah. The largest deposits are in Canada. 1. 2.

Refining Synthetic Crudes: 

Refining Synthetic Crudes Fisher-Tropsch (FT) is an emerging technology for Converting synthetic crude to synthetic fuels. Fisher-Tropsch Process Developed by Germany during World War II to make gasoline from coal. Developed out of necessity from a lack of available crude oil. Modernized in South Africa by SASOL Corporation. Brief History What is FT? Converts coal, natural gas, and low-value refinery products into high value, clean burning fuel! FT offers important emissions benefits compared to conventional fuel.

Fisher Tropsch Technology: 

Fisher Tropsch Technology Reference: Review of Responses to RFI on Synthetic Fuel, 31 August 2006 (DESC internal presentation)

Petroleum Crude Oil Processing-Conventional and Synthetic: 

Petroleum Crude Oil Processing-Conventional and Synthetic Crude Oil/Synthetic Feedstock Distillation Distillation Naptha Cut C3 & C4 Olefins Distillate Cuts

Major Producers of Fisher-Tropsch Fuels: 

Major Producers of Fisher-Tropsch Fuels South Africa’s Sasol is the largest producer Other projects include: BP (Nikiski, AK) Conoco-Phillips (Ponca City, OK) Syntroleum (Tulsa, OK) Shell Maylasia Exxon Mobile Qatar Chevron There are other oil companies developing large scale production Operations using Fisher-Tropsch technology!

SYNTHETIC FUEL: 

SYNTHETIC FUEL SYNTHETIC FUEL FROM BIOMASS

Synthetic Fuels from Biomass Processing: 

Synthetic Fuels from Biomass Processing Synthetic fuels can be created from “Biomass” Biomass can be any plant derived organic matter, available on a renewable basis including: Dedicated energy crops and trees Agricultural food and feed crops Agricultural crop wastes Wood wastes and residues Aquatic Plants Animal wastes Municipal wastes and other waste materials

Biomass Resources in the United States: 

Biomass Resources in the United States Abundant, natural and renewable resource Supplements fossil energy supply Helps create energy security and independence Can be used to produce fuels, power, and many chemicals Source: www.eere.energy.gov/biomass

Biomass Usage: 

Biomass Usage Source: www.eere.energy.gov/biomass Leading source of renewable energy in U.S. since 1999 Provides fuel, heat, electricity, chemicals and other products Agricultural and forestry residues most common resource for generating electricity and process steam Increases use of crops for biodiesel and ethanol

Biomass Resource Hierarchy: 

Biomass Resource Hierarchy Source: Energy Information Administration, Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternative Fuels Hardwood Softwood Black Liquor Sawdust Wood chips Hogged Fuel Mfg Scrap Wood Residential refuse Commercial refuse Industrial refuse Landfill (methane gas) Animal Residues Plant Residues Other Mfg Waste Corn Lignocellulosic Biomass Other Grains Soy Yellow Grease (used cooking oil)

Biomass Platforms: 

Biomass Platforms Source: Office of the Biomass Program-Multiyear Plan 2004 and Beyond, Nov. 2003 Biomass Platforms for producing fuels Biomass Sugar Feedstocks Syngas/ Pyrolysis Oils CONVERSION Catalytic Chemical Biological Thermal Residues

Synthetic Fuels in the Transportation Sector: 

Synthetic Fuels in the Transportation Sector SYNTHETIC FUELS IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR

WHAT ARE TRANSPORTATION FUELS?: 

WHAT ARE TRANSPORTATION FUELS? Transportation Fuels Transportation fuels are refined from conventional petroleum (hydro-carbon based) crude oils. They include: Jet Fuels Diesel Fuels Gasolines Marine Fuels

TRANSPORTATION FUEL USAGE: 

TRANSPORTATION FUEL USAGE Source: EIA, International Energy Outlook 2004 Transportation Fuel Usage vs. Total Fuel Oil Consumption

Oil Consumpion by Region: 

Oil Consumpion by Region Source: EIA, International Energy Outlook 2006 OECD- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

World Oil Reserves: 

World Oil Reserves Source: EIA, International Energy Outlook 2006

Selected Country Production and Consumption: 

Selected Country Production and Consumption Source: EIA, Short Term Energy Outlook, Mar 2007 Projected Supply Projected Demand

Synthetic Fuel as a Transportation Fuel: 

Synthetic Fuel as a Transportation Fuel Synthetic fuel can typically be: Used with the existing distribution infrastructure Used in conventional vehicles (diesel/gasoline/kerosene-jet fuel)

Transportation Fuel Specifications: 

Transportation Fuel Specifications TRANSPORTATION FUEL SPECIFICATIONS

Specification Provisions: 

Specification Provisions Synthetic Aviation Fuels: Required to meet Standard Specification for Aviation Fuels- ASTM-D-1655 and Defense Standard 91/91/Issue 5, 8 February 2005 Only SASOL Corporation’s semi-synthetic fuel blend of conventional kerosene and synthetic kerosene meets this requirement thus far! Defense Standard 91/91-Issue 5, stipulates, “ the use of blends represents a departure from experience…..” therefore, “an interim solution …to approve fuels containing synthetics components on an individual basis” is actively performed.

Specification Provisions: 

Specification Provisions Synthetic Aviation Fuels (Con’t): JP-8 MIL-DTL-83133E, April 1999 JP-5 MIL-DTL-5624U, 5 January 2004 Allows for various crudes: “crude oil derived from petroleum, tar sands, oil shale or mixtures thereof..” Section 3.1 Materials, MIL-DTL-5624U, 5 January 2004

Specification Provisions (con’t): 

Specification Provisions (con’t) Marine Fuel: ISO 8217: Specifications of Marine Fuels, 3rd Edition, 2005-11-01 Allows oils from Tar Sands and Shale Synthetic Diesel Fuels: ASTM-D-975 Hydrocarbon source not specified for diesel fuels

Key Advantages of Synthetic Fuels: 

Key Advantages of Synthetic Fuels Can use existing infrastructure No sulfur (exceeds EPA 2006 regulations) Lower engine exhaust emissions Less toxic- no aromatics, bio-degradable, no hetero-atoms Abundant domestic feedstocks Excellent low temperature properties Strong long term storage stability Reference: An Emerging New Fuel: Fisher-Tropsch Fuels, DESC Worldwide Energy Conference 2004

Present Limitations of Synthetic Fuels: 

Present Limitations of Synthetic Fuels Low lubricity for Diesel, Jet, and Marine Fuels Material compatibility issues in Jet Fuels (e.g. zero aromatics and the effects on seals) All issues are solvable: Additives can be used to remedy lubricity concern. Material compatibility can be remedied by the use of blends initially. Further development can force progress to full synthetic. Reference: Synthetic Transportation Fuels, S. Westbrook, C. Moses, DESC Worldwide Energy Conference 2004

Summary: 

Summary Important definitions around synthetic fuels Why synthetic fuels are needed Understanding of synthetic fuel processes U.S. demand for petroleum products Basic properties of synthetic fuel products You should now understand….

FAQs: 

FAQs 1. What are Synthetic Fuels and why are they needed?   3. How are Synthetic Fuels made?   4. What is the Fisher -Tropsch Process?   5. Which companies are in the business of producing synthetic fuels?   6. What is Biomass and how is it used to as a source of energy?   7. Which transportation fuel specifications allow synthetic fuels.   8. What are some of the advantages of Synthetic fuels.     9. What are the disadvantages of Synthetic fuels?