The development direction of coal chemical industry

Answer: 1. Direct coal liquefaction also relies on the development of coal gasification technology; the hydrogen content in coal means that it cannot function independently of coal gasification, unless technology advances to the point where hydrogen from water can be used directly:lol 2. In terms of the development of coal chemical industry for the utilization of fossil fuels, based on current understanding, it still depends on progress in cost-effective and efficient coal gasification technology. 3. If underground gasification technology develops to a level of maturity, controllability, and low cost, it could bring about significant changes in the mining industry and the coal chemical industry. :Lol 4. Gasification technology is far from being mature, and we might not see any signs of its demise in our lifetime. Please, Fang Jia, leave your comments

Coal chemical engineering includes the dry distillation of coal (at low, medium, and high temperatures), gasification, liquefaction, as well as the processing of other chemicals. There is also much room for development in the area of high-temperature dry distillation for producing coking chemical products. Tar refining, methanol, etc.

I think it can be summarized in one sentence: we need to make comprehensive use of the remaining coal resources.

1. The direct liquefaction of coal by Inner Mongolia Shenhua has been successful, and multiple international patents have been obtained, which represents a technological advancement; 2. The coking of coal is on the decline, as developed countries no longer engage in coal coking； 3. The scale of coal gasification is increasing continuously, leaving less room for cost reductions. For example, in the case of methanol production at 1.2 million tons per year, in which direction will future technologies develop? ； 4. The hydrogen required for the direct liquefaction of coal can be provided by a small amount of gasification, or it can be obtained through other methods such as methane conversion and water electrolysis ； 5. The end of fossil fuels is an inevitable outcome; it’s only a matter of time. With technological progress and increased scale, that time will only come sooner ； 6. Direct coal liquefaction has greater potential for development compared to indirect liquefaction after gasification ； Therefore, the replacement of gasification and indirect liquefaction by direct coal liquefaction is an inevitable outcome of technological development, and fossil fuels will eventually be replaced by clean energy.

1. Gasification technology is relatively mature; in my opinion, it’s too early to say that at this point. Not to mention, there are various coal gasification technologies in use domestically, each with its own advantages and disadvantages ； As for the most suitable gasification method – underground gasification – it is still in the experimental stage. 2. Coal liquefaction technology is scientifically known as coal-based liquid fuel synthesis technology. Indirect liquefaction involves first gasifying coal to produce syngas, and then using the Fischer-Tropsch process to produce synthetic oil. Direct liquefaction involves using hydrogen under high temperature and pressure to convert the organic compounds in coal directly into liquid fuel, which is then further processed to produce fuels such as gasoline and diesel. 3. The production of chemical products based on gasification has developed a robust industrial chain. Its main products include a variety of chemical substances such as synthetic ammonia, methanol, acetic acid, and formaldehyde; together with their derivatives, there are hundreds of such products, which give it an important role in the chemical industry. 4. In summary, direct coal liquefaction requires hydrogenation, and therefore relies on coal gasification (hydrogen is produced using oil or other methods; currently, the cost of this approach is higher than that of producing hydrogen from coal) ； The purposes of coal liquefaction and gasification are not exactly the same: liquefaction is used to produce oil, while gasification yields syngas, which can be used to manufacture various chemical products ； Given the current level of technology, a complete coal chemical industry system cannot do without gasification technology.

Coal chemical technology is truly a complex field that will continue to play a leading role for the next few decades, or even centuries

Our country needs to have its own technologies in the field of coal gasification. Although coal gasification and coal liquefaction are developing rapidly at present, few industries actually possess Chinese-owned technologies. On the other hand, while we introduce and absorb foreign technologies, we also create opportunities for others to reuse those technologies. Therefore, such introductions should not be done blindly; they must be adapted to our actual conditions, and there should be no rush to do so. Looking at current developments, the introduction of large-scale gasification equipment will surely have an impact on the coal chemical industry. Small and medium-sized nitrogen fertilizer manufacturers as well as local coal-based enterprises will lose their competitive advantages, leading to a reshuffling of the industry. Currently, new large-scale coal chemical projects are being established with local economies and practical needs given secondary importance; instead, the focus is on costs and market factors, with new equipment being introduced and large factories built. These efforts are aimed at securing coal resources and utilizing advanced technologies, along with market mechanisms, to ensure the survival and development of enterprises. But once our coal resources are exhausted, or once coal gasification technologies become more mature, will the coal industry need to reallocate market resources and undergo another reshuffle? In other words, the same technology cannot be used repeatedly. When new technologies can improve production efficiency, will we have to spend money to create markets for others’ technologies?