The present paper summarizes a comprehensive Second‐Law analysis of the SYNTHANE process of coal gasification(1), based on the available‐energy concept as applied to design conditions and data. The analysis yields an overall process efficiency of 46%. For every 100 MJ of useful energy supplied with coal, 51 MJ are consumed during the various unit operations while effluents carry 3 MJ. Unit 30, Steam and Power Production, consumes nearly 20 MJ; Unit 15, Gasification, used up nearly 16 MJ; Units 12 and 14, Coal Preparation and Feeding, about 5 MJ; Units 16 and 17, Raw Gas Quenching and Shift Conversion, 4 MJ; Unit 32, Oxygen Plant, approximately 2 MJ; other miscellaneous units contribute a combined available‐energy destruction of 4 MJ. The Second‐Law analysis unveils the inefficiencies present in the process and their sources, thus pinpointing the opportunities for improvement in the SYNTHANE process.
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Rodŕiguez et al. (1980) studied this question.