Should we develop \"coal-to-oil\" technology or \"methanol fuel\"?”

When using methanol as a fuel, not only engine-related issues need to be taken into account, but another practical problem must also be considered: the toxicity of methanol, which is quite high. Physical and chemical properties of methanol: a colorless, transparent, highly volatile, and flammable liquid. Has a slight alcohol smell. Molecular formula C-H4-O. Molecular weight 32.04. Relative density 0.792 (20/4°C). Melting point -97.8°C. Boiling point 64.5°C. Flash point 12.22°C. Autoignition point: 463.89°C. Vapor density 1.11. Vapor pressure 13.33 KPa (100 mmHg at 21.2°C). The lower explosion limit of the vapor-air mixture is 6–36.5 %. It is miscible with water, ethanol, ether, benzene, toluene, halogenated hydrocarbons, and many other organic solvents. It catches fire easily when exposed to heat, open flames, or oxidizers. It will explode in contact with an open flame. Routes of entry: It is primarily absorbed through the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract; partial absorption can also occur through the skin.

Methanol gasoline has a promising future, but in my opinion it is more reasonable to develop methanol fuel instead. Coal-to-oil, right… strategic reserves!

Methanol gasoline is great! It suits China’s national conditions! Growing fast! Technology is mature! Some people say that methanol gasoline is toxic! So, is gasoline meant for cars or for people to drink? Are the refined petroleum products produced by petrochemical industries toxic? It’s also poisonous! Haven’t we had all these years too? Did it poison a few more people? Turning coal into oil isn’t something that can be done in no time! High investment! Slow benefits! Not suitable for China’s development!

Methanol fuel will definitely be a hot industry in the coming years! Development will definitely be fast! Coal-to-oil production is extremely costly–ordinary companies simply can’t afford to do it! At present, only Shenhua is the sole entity monopolizing this project!

In my opinion, it’s better to develop methanol fuel. After all, petroleum is not a sustainable resource; it will surely be replaced in the future by liquid fuels such as methanol and ethanol. Therefore, we should focus on developing such alternatives now, rather than waiting until petroleum runs out before taking action – by then it will be too late

Well, in that case, both need to be developed – strategic reserves and alternative energy sources are both good options. For businesses, methanol fuel is definitely the more reliable option; coal-to-oil production is costly and labor-intensive.

Coal-to-oil and coal-to-methanol processes are unreasonable from the perspective of the energy system. China itself also faces a threat of shortage in coal resources, and multiple conversions of energy inevitably lead to greater losses at intermediate stages. Therefore, from the standpoint of maximizing energy utilization, these approaches are not cost-effective; they do not constitute actions that are appropriate for a resource-conserving society.

Standards for dimethyl ether vehicles finalized 2009-1-23 　Recently, the project related to the development of key technical standards for new energy vehicles, which was undertaken by Shanghai Automobile Group as part of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s ’863’ program and Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission’s ’Innovation Action Plan’, passed the evaluation by an expert panel. These are the first new energy vehicle standards formulated in our country. The key technical standards for new energy vehicles that have passed the approval this time include: the **Standard for General Safety of Fuel Cell Vehicles**, the **Standard for Terms Related to Fuel Cell Vehicles**, the industry standard for **Rapid-Connect DMF Refueling Nozzles for Vehicles**, the industry standard for **Technical Requirements for Special Devices Used in DMF Vehicles**, and the industry standard for **Safety Requirements for Special Devices Used in DMF Vehicles**. At the review meeting, the experts present gave high praise, stating that the formulation of these standards is of great significance for promoting the healthy development of new energy vehicles in the country. This standard possesses a certain degree of advancement, practicality, and good operability. The preparation of the five standard specimens complies with the requirements of relevant standards such as GB/T1.1, which helps to accelerate the demonstration operation and industrialization of fuel cell vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and dimethyl ether vehicles in China. It is reported that drafts for these five standards have already been prepared, and they will soon be officially issued and put into effect by the **Standardization Management Committee**

The coal-derived oil referred to today generally means gasoline, diesel, and other fuels produced from relatively inexpensive coal. Of course, many by-products with high added value are also produced during the conversion process. Regarding the methods to be used, there are currently two approaches: one is the direct conversion of coal into oil, where the coal is refined through screening and then converted into oil under the action of a catalyst; the other is the indirect conversion of coal into oil, involving first converting coal into water gas, CO, and H2, which are then converted into oil using a catalyst. The project to directly convert coal into oil, with an investment of 20 billion yuan, was launched by Shenhua and the American company ABB in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and it is now in operation. There are many examples of indirect conversions, such as Yankuang. In fact, it’s meaningless to discuss whether to produce oil or alcohol; what matters is cost-effectiveness and efficiency. It’s similar to the choice between using oil to produce fuel or olefins – it’s just a matter of different approaches.