China’s clean coal technology needs continued breakthroughs

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http://www.nmtech.com.cn/jishuwang/*nwen_mhg_xx.asp?id=62466 Clean coal technology refers to new technologies for processing, combustion, conversion, and pollution control that are employed throughout the entire cycle of coal development and utilization, with the aim of reducing pollution emissions and improving efficiency. It mainly encompasses 14 technologies in four areas: coal processing, efficient and clean combustion of coal, coal conversion, and pollution control as well as waste treatment. In other words, it is a technical system that starts with the washing and processing of coal, relies on coal gasification as a key step, focuses on efficient and clean combustion of coal for power generation, and includes coal conversion and pollution control as important components. 　　Relevant statistics show that 80% of carbon dioxide, 75% of sulfur dioxide, and 70% of suspended particulates in China’s air come from coal combustion. In China’s primary energy consumption, coal accounts for about 70% of the total. 　　“For a considerable period in the future, coal will continue to play a dominant role in China’s primary energy supply. China’s energy resource structure, characterized by abundant coal, limited oil, and scarce gas, determines the high dependence of its economic and social development on coal. ”Hou Xianglin, head of the research department at the Shanxi Coal Chemistry Research Institute, said. However, relatively backward combustion technologies and equipment result in the energy consumption of China’s major industrial products being 20%–60% higher than that of more advanced countries. Therefore, by leveraging China’s abundant coal resources to transform traditional coal chemical production processes that are inefficient, resource-intensive, and polluting, and by developing clean coal technologies, it holds great strategic and practical significance for addressing the country’s shortage of oil and gas resources, balancing the energy structure, ensuring energy security, and promoting the sustained and stable development of the national economy. 　　Clean coal technology is not only one of the key technologies used by countries around the world to address environmental problems, but it has also become an important high-tech field in international competition. Starting in the 1980s, developed countries, considering the long-term benefits of energy development, successively undertook large-scale research on clean coal technologies. After years of development, significant progress has been made in some key areas; moreover, certain core technical patents are even held in monopoly by foreign companies. 　　“Based on data analysis, patents applied for in China are mostly concentrated in downstream technologies, whereas patents from developed countries are primarily focused on upstream technologies ； Patents filed in China are mostly focused on improvements to small and medium components of large-scale equipment, whereas patents from developed countries are primarily centered on the production and improvement of large-scale equipment. For example, in the case of coking ovens, domestic applications focus mainly on improvements to the oven heads and coal loading covers, whereas patents from developed countries focus on the overall optimization of coking ovens. ”**Bi Nan, head of the Invention Examination Department for Materials Engineering at the Intellectual Property Office, said. 　　Given the broad scope of the clean coal technology field, Bi Nan used the currently popular direct coal liquefaction technology as an example to illustrate foreign patent strategies in China. In the field of direct coal liquefaction, the foreign companies with a significant advantage include Germany’s Ruhr Coal Mines, Japan’s New Energy Industrial Technology Development Organization, Japan’s Mitsubishi, the United States’ Hydrocarbon Technologies Inc., and the Netherlands’ Shell. The foreign patent landscape in China related to direct coal liquefaction is mainly that of the aforementioned companies. 　　Through our search, we found that as of June 2008, there were a total of 140 foreign patent applications related to coal liquefaction. These 140 patent documents spanned 23 years, from 1985 to 2008, with foreign companies filing applications related to direct coal liquefaction in China every year. Among these patent documents, there are 46 patents that have been granted and are still valid. 　　Among the relevant applications from foreign companies, 50 relate to catalysts for direct coal liquefaction; of these, 27 patents have been granted and are still valid, while 10 applications are still pending ； There are 81 patents related to the direct coal liquefaction hydrogenation process, of which 17 are granted and still valid, while 22 are pending applications ； There are 35 patents related to coal direct liquefaction equipment, of which 9 are granted and valid, while 12 are pending applications. 　　Based on the currently valid patents, a large number of core technologies in direct coal liquefaction are held by foreign companies. 　　China’s clean coal industry began in the 1990s. Although it started late, it has achieved certain results in the efficient and clean utilization of coal, and there have also been notable advances in the research and development of clean coal technologies. In particular, significant scientific research achievements have been made in coal processing and conversion, and patent approvals have been obtained. 　　The **Medium- and Long-Term Plan for Science and Technology Development (2006–2020)** includes the clean and efficient utilization of coal, as well as liquefaction and co-generation technologies, among the technical areas that require priority development in the field of energy. As one of the important means to extend the industrial chain and achieve economic transformation, many resource-rich provinces and energy companies in China have turned their attention to clean coal technology. 　　It is understood that after 2005, patent applications in the field of clean coal technology in China began to grow rapidly. At present, a number of advanced clean coal technologies with independent intellectual property rights and significant impact have achieved breakthroughs, providing technical support for the healthy development of the clean coal industry. For example, in 2008, Shenhua Group’s world’s first coal direct liquefaction production line with an annual output of one million tons of oil products began producing oil successfully. The related process technologies have been patented both domestically and internationally, and approvals have currently been obtained from China and the United States. Take the Shanxi Coal Chemistry Research Institute as another example: in 2009 alone, it filed 67 invention patents and 9 utility model patents in the field of clean coal ； 55 authorized invention patents and 1 utility model patent. 　　However, domestic enterprises and institutions like these are still a minority after all. Hou Xianglin said, \"The lack of innovation capabilities, key technologies that are behind international standards, the absence of core technologies in the high-end equipment industry, and a high dependence on foreign imports are the main problems in the development of clean coal technology in our country.\" ” 　　To gain a global advantage in the field of clean coal, it is first necessary to make technological breakthroughs and achieve significant scientific research results ； Then there is strengthening patent protection. In fields where technology is at the forefront, it is essential to focus on owning and proactively developing independent intellectual property rights in order to seize the strategic advantages in terms of intellectual property within that industry. 　　Although our country has made considerable efforts in patent protection in the field of clean coal and achieved significant progress, due to the late establishment of its patent system, it has taken time for enterprises to develop an understanding of patent protection. As in other fields, there are also some issues in the clean coal sector, such as overall low quality ； Individual applications account for a large proportion ； The number of Chinese applicants filing patents abroad is very low, etc. 　　In order to consolidate and expand their market presence and enhance China’s influence in the field of clean coal, domestic enterprises should make efforts in the following two areas. 　　First, hone your internal skills. To gain a global advantage in the field of clean coal, it is necessary to make breakthroughs in technology and achieve significant scientific research results ； Then there is strengthening patent protection. Specific measures can include: establishing dedicated departments and training specialized personnel ； Establish rules and regulations, formulate necessary rules and guidelines, and clarify job roles and responsibilities ； Formulate a patent strategy for the unit or system. Collect information, establish an information database, and make full use of it as well as manage it scientifically. 　　Secondly, make rational use of patent strategies. An analysis of patents in the field of clean coal technology shows that China’s patent development in this area is highly uneven: some technologies are at the leading level worldwide, some possess competitive advantages, while others are lagging behind. Different strategies can be adopted depending on the situation. In fields where technology is at the forefront, it is possible to focus on owning and actively developing independent intellectual property rights, thereby seizing the strategic high ground in terms of intellectual property within that industry and gaining a monopoly or advantageous position in market competition ； In fields with backward technology, domestic and international patent databases related to those fields can be established, and the patent system can be utilized effectively in order to ensure survival ； In certain fields where there are certain advantages, it is possible to develop improved inventions based on others’ existing patent technologies, create improved patents, and engage in cross-licensing with those parties to achieve a win-win situation.