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Methane as an energy source for the 21st century
03
Gaseous
fuels
(derived
gaseous
fuels)
ot dynamic interregional optimization models for the gas industry. The models describe possible alternatives for the development of the gas sector, in combination with options for economic relations within the gas industry, while taking into account financial conditions of the main market players. The main finding is that gas companies in Russia and CIS countries can diversify their export routes to Asian markets, which could become as important as the European market in view of the higher export prices.
Factor substitution, and economies of scale and utilisation in Kuwait’s crude oil industry
03/01125
Al-Mutairi, N. and Burney, N. A. Ener~r Ecormnrics. 2002. 24. (4). 337 354. The cost structure of the crude oil industry in Kuwait has been examined, with specific focus on factor substitution, and economies of scale and utilisation. This has been done by estimating translog cost functions, both long-run and short-run, using time-series data covering the period from 1976 to 1996. The results indicate that the implied production structure is non-homothetic, and the pattern of scale effect is labour saving, but capital and material using. The evidence also supports the presence of an induced exogenous technical change, which is non-neutral (labour and capital using, and material saving). The elasticity of substitution between capital and labour is positive, implying that the two inputs are substitute. The results also indicate the existence of diseconomies of scale in the production of crude oil. but no economies or diseconomies of utilization.
03101126 Methane as an energy source for the 21st century NakiCenoviC, N. International Journal qf Global Energy Issues. 2002, 18. (I). 622. Fossil fuels currently supply about 80% of global primary energy. The consequences are severe for human health from indoor and regional air pollution, acidification due to sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions and climate change due to rapidly growing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, there is a clear need to improve the efficiency and the environmental compatibility of fossil technologies, shift to fossil energy sources with lower environmental impacts such as natural gas, or shift away from fossil energy use to renewable sources and nuclear power. This is an especially challenging prospect for the rapidly developing countries of Asia. Wider use of natural gas and electricity in Asia would help promote higher energy efficiencies, better quality of energy services and substantially lower environmental impacts especially at the level of energy end use. Such a transition would require new continental-scale infrastructures including natural gas and electricity grids and distribution systems.
03101127 Price impact on Russian gas export to Asia and gas supply systems development Kononov, Y. D. Inrernahmal Journal oj’Global Energy Issues, 2002, 18, (I). 61 68. This paper analyses the prospects for natural gas exports from Russia to Asia and discusses the development of gas supply systems in the border areas of Siberia and the Far East. The paper presents a quantitative estimate of the impact of different gas export prices on external energy markets for the optimal volumes of natural gas export from Russia. In doing so, the dependence of gas demands and their growth on price policies is illustrated. The paper shows that prices do influence gas export potentials but also suggests that the creation of a unified gas supply system in the Asian part of Russia and development of international gas pipelines from Russia to Asia are a viable option.
03/01126 The oil market and international agreements on CO* emissions Berger, K. ef rrl. Resourws und Energy, 2002, 14, (4), 315-336. According to most scientists, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced significantly relative to current trends to avoid dramatic adverse climatic changes during the next century. COz is the most important greenhouse gas, so any international agreement will certainly cover COz emissions. Any international agreement to reduce emissions of CO* is going to have a significant impact on the markets for fossil fuels. The analysis shows that it is not only the amount of CO? emissions permitted in an agreement that matters for fossil fuel prices, but also the type of agreement. Two obvious forms of agreements, which under certain assumptions both are cost efficient, are (a) tradeable emission permits, and (b) an international COZ tax. If the fossil fuel markets were perfectly competitive, these two types of agreements would have the same effect on the producer price of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuel markets are not completely competitive. It is shown that, under imperfect competition, direct regulation of the ‘tradeable quotas’ type tends to imply higher producer prices and a larger efficiency loss than an international COz tax giving the same total CO2 emissions. A numerical illustration of the oil market indicates that the difference in producer prices for the two types of CO? agreements is quite significant. 3lR
F~rcl rnrl
Fnflr~~v Ahatract~
.lulv 2003
Derived
gaseous
fuels
03/01129 Catalytic partial oxidation carried out with two types of catalysts in the same reactor Anon, Rrscrrrck Di.rc/osurr. 2002, (456), P544-~P545. (In French) The production of syngas from methane can be realized to leave a mixture of combined species (middle oxygenates) and a non-combusted species (C,,H,) by passage across a catalytic reactor to partial oxidation. Generally this partial oxidation is performed in elevated temperatures (>850”) and low pressures. The catalytic reactor is generally heated by external means (for example encircling tubular reactors or internal electric heating). The partial oxidation of methane was carried out in two ways with two types of catalysts, firstly with noble metal alone and secondly mixed together with a basic metal such as nickel or chromium. Both reaction schemes, operating under the same conditions. yield similar composition products.
03/01130 Green, T~~II;uI/
Co-gasification of coals of various ranks M. S. Prowdings of‘ /he In~wwtior~cr/ ,,n <‘orrl 1 ‘~ilixr~ion & Fuel .~W
A. E. S. and Sankar, (‘onfirm~~
1121~1130. In using blends of solid feedstock in gasification systems it is useful to quantify the concept of coal rank. After corrections for moisture, ash and minor species content, it was shown that oxygen weight percentage [0] and hydrogen weight percentage [H] can provide a quantity basis for a ranking system that includes peat (developing coal) as a lower rank coal and biomass, (infant coal) as the lowest rank coal. Then an analysis expression for the trend of [H] vs [0] for the entire coalification curve can be used to reduce the search for systematics of volatile amounts and composition to the variable [O]. In this way an analytic model was developed for correlations between the compositions of solid fuels and their many pyrolysis products over the entire coalification path from biomass to peat to lignite, bituminous and anthracite coal. The model is intended to guide quantity decisions as to percentages of different rank coals to use in co firing, co-gasifying or co-liquifying runs. The model is presented as a heuristic challenge to those in coal or biomass conversion to develop better models to serve the needs of co-utilization applications.
03/01131 Cooling system of char in coal gasification apparatus Fujikawa, A. and Egashira, ‘I‘. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho JP 2002 302,683 (Cl. ClO.l3/46), 18 Ott 2002, Appl. 20011107,720. (In Japanese) The system includes a heat exchanger tube for cooling the char separated from gas in a solid-gas separator in coal gasification apparatus, and a means for introduction of fluidization gas (e.g. Nz) underneath the tube for fluidization of char inside the cooling system, to improve cooling without char deposit on the tube.
03/01132 Desulfurization of coke oven gas by mixing ZnO powder into coal Tam!. H. et al. Ranliao Hua.u_w Xuebao, 2002. 30, (3). 209 -213. (In Chit&se) On the basis of thermodynamic simulation, behaviour of hydrogen sulfide removal from coke oven gas (COG) by mixing zinc oxide into the coal and the effect of the-additive on the coke quality were investigated. The experimental results show that in the stage when coal converts into semicoke, hydrogen sulfide concentration in COG decreases with the increase of zinc additive in coal. And an optimum amount is -40% excess of the stoichiometric amount of zinc additive needed in coal. In the stage when semicoke converts into coke, hydrogen sulfide concentration in COG decreases with the increase of zinc additive in coal, the reason for this is that the zinc oxide retained in the semicoke is easier to decompose under the same conditions than zinc sulfide. The additive of zinc oxide in coal has little deleterious effect on coke quality.
03/01133 Fluidized bed coal gasification with CO2 under direct irradiation with concentrated visible light Kodama, T. et ul. Energy & Fuels, 2002, 16. (5), 1264-1270. Solar CO2 gasification of coal was demonstrated under direct irradiation of the fluidized coal bed with the concentrated visible light from a solar furnace simulator in a small-scale quartz reactor. Pulverized Australian bituminous coal (the average particle size of 140 pm) was tested. The peak energy-flux density, FD eak of the incident light beam was varied up to 1270 kW m ‘. Tl!e light-tochemical (enthalpy) energy conversion via the solar gasification increased with increasing the energy-flux density of irradiation The maximum energy conversion of 8% was obtained at the optimum gas velocity for fluidization of 0.96 N m min
Gaseous
fuels
(derived
gaseous
fuels)
ot dynamic interregional optimization models for the gas industry. The models describe possible alternatives for the development of the gas sector, in combination with options for economic relations within the gas industry, while taking into account financial conditions of the main market players. The main finding is that gas companies in Russia and CIS countries can diversify their export routes to Asian markets, which could become as important as the European market in view of the higher export prices.
Factor substitution, and economies of scale and utilisation in Kuwait’s crude oil industry
03/01125
Al-Mutairi, N. and Burney, N. A. Ener~r Ecormnrics. 2002. 24. (4). 337 354. The cost structure of the crude oil industry in Kuwait has been examined, with specific focus on factor substitution, and economies of scale and utilisation. This has been done by estimating translog cost functions, both long-run and short-run, using time-series data covering the period from 1976 to 1996. The results indicate that the implied production structure is non-homothetic, and the pattern of scale effect is labour saving, but capital and material using. The evidence also supports the presence of an induced exogenous technical change, which is non-neutral (labour and capital using, and material saving). The elasticity of substitution between capital and labour is positive, implying that the two inputs are substitute. The results also indicate the existence of diseconomies of scale in the production of crude oil. but no economies or diseconomies of utilization.
03101126 Methane as an energy source for the 21st century NakiCenoviC, N. International Journal qf Global Energy Issues. 2002, 18. (I). 622. Fossil fuels currently supply about 80% of global primary energy. The consequences are severe for human health from indoor and regional air pollution, acidification due to sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions and climate change due to rapidly growing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, there is a clear need to improve the efficiency and the environmental compatibility of fossil technologies, shift to fossil energy sources with lower environmental impacts such as natural gas, or shift away from fossil energy use to renewable sources and nuclear power. This is an especially challenging prospect for the rapidly developing countries of Asia. Wider use of natural gas and electricity in Asia would help promote higher energy efficiencies, better quality of energy services and substantially lower environmental impacts especially at the level of energy end use. Such a transition would require new continental-scale infrastructures including natural gas and electricity grids and distribution systems.
03101127 Price impact on Russian gas export to Asia and gas supply systems development Kononov, Y. D. Inrernahmal Journal oj’Global Energy Issues, 2002, 18, (I). 61 68. This paper analyses the prospects for natural gas exports from Russia to Asia and discusses the development of gas supply systems in the border areas of Siberia and the Far East. The paper presents a quantitative estimate of the impact of different gas export prices on external energy markets for the optimal volumes of natural gas export from Russia. In doing so, the dependence of gas demands and their growth on price policies is illustrated. The paper shows that prices do influence gas export potentials but also suggests that the creation of a unified gas supply system in the Asian part of Russia and development of international gas pipelines from Russia to Asia are a viable option.
03/01126 The oil market and international agreements on CO* emissions Berger, K. ef rrl. Resourws und Energy, 2002, 14, (4), 315-336. According to most scientists, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced significantly relative to current trends to avoid dramatic adverse climatic changes during the next century. COz is the most important greenhouse gas, so any international agreement will certainly cover COz emissions. Any international agreement to reduce emissions of CO* is going to have a significant impact on the markets for fossil fuels. The analysis shows that it is not only the amount of CO? emissions permitted in an agreement that matters for fossil fuel prices, but also the type of agreement. Two obvious forms of agreements, which under certain assumptions both are cost efficient, are (a) tradeable emission permits, and (b) an international COZ tax. If the fossil fuel markets were perfectly competitive, these two types of agreements would have the same effect on the producer price of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuel markets are not completely competitive. It is shown that, under imperfect competition, direct regulation of the ‘tradeable quotas’ type tends to imply higher producer prices and a larger efficiency loss than an international COz tax giving the same total CO2 emissions. A numerical illustration of the oil market indicates that the difference in producer prices for the two types of CO? agreements is quite significant. 3lR
F~rcl rnrl
Fnflr~~v Ahatract~
.lulv 2003
Derived
gaseous
fuels
03/01129 Catalytic partial oxidation carried out with two types of catalysts in the same reactor Anon, Rrscrrrck Di.rc/osurr. 2002, (456), P544-~P545. (In French) The production of syngas from methane can be realized to leave a mixture of combined species (middle oxygenates) and a non-combusted species (C,,H,) by passage across a catalytic reactor to partial oxidation. Generally this partial oxidation is performed in elevated temperatures (>850”) and low pressures. The catalytic reactor is generally heated by external means (for example encircling tubular reactors or internal electric heating). The partial oxidation of methane was carried out in two ways with two types of catalysts, firstly with noble metal alone and secondly mixed together with a basic metal such as nickel or chromium. Both reaction schemes, operating under the same conditions. yield similar composition products.
03/01130 Green, T~~II;uI/
Co-gasification of coals of various ranks M. S. Prowdings of‘ /he In~wwtior~cr/ ,,n <‘orrl 1 ‘~ilixr~ion & Fuel .~W
A. E. S. and Sankar, (‘onfirm~~
1121~1130. In using blends of solid feedstock in gasification systems it is useful to quantify the concept of coal rank. After corrections for moisture, ash and minor species content, it was shown that oxygen weight percentage [0] and hydrogen weight percentage [H] can provide a quantity basis for a ranking system that includes peat (developing coal) as a lower rank coal and biomass, (infant coal) as the lowest rank coal. Then an analysis expression for the trend of [H] vs [0] for the entire coalification curve can be used to reduce the search for systematics of volatile amounts and composition to the variable [O]. In this way an analytic model was developed for correlations between the compositions of solid fuels and their many pyrolysis products over the entire coalification path from biomass to peat to lignite, bituminous and anthracite coal. The model is intended to guide quantity decisions as to percentages of different rank coals to use in co firing, co-gasifying or co-liquifying runs. The model is presented as a heuristic challenge to those in coal or biomass conversion to develop better models to serve the needs of co-utilization applications.
03/01131 Cooling system of char in coal gasification apparatus Fujikawa, A. and Egashira, ‘I‘. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho JP 2002 302,683 (Cl. ClO.l3/46), 18 Ott 2002, Appl. 20011107,720. (In Japanese) The system includes a heat exchanger tube for cooling the char separated from gas in a solid-gas separator in coal gasification apparatus, and a means for introduction of fluidization gas (e.g. Nz) underneath the tube for fluidization of char inside the cooling system, to improve cooling without char deposit on the tube.
03/01132 Desulfurization of coke oven gas by mixing ZnO powder into coal Tam!. H. et al. Ranliao Hua.u_w Xuebao, 2002. 30, (3). 209 -213. (In Chit&se) On the basis of thermodynamic simulation, behaviour of hydrogen sulfide removal from coke oven gas (COG) by mixing zinc oxide into the coal and the effect of the-additive on the coke quality were investigated. The experimental results show that in the stage when coal converts into semicoke, hydrogen sulfide concentration in COG decreases with the increase of zinc additive in coal. And an optimum amount is -40% excess of the stoichiometric amount of zinc additive needed in coal. In the stage when semicoke converts into coke, hydrogen sulfide concentration in COG decreases with the increase of zinc additive in coal, the reason for this is that the zinc oxide retained in the semicoke is easier to decompose under the same conditions than zinc sulfide. The additive of zinc oxide in coal has little deleterious effect on coke quality.
03/01133 Fluidized bed coal gasification with CO2 under direct irradiation with concentrated visible light Kodama, T. et ul. Energy & Fuels, 2002, 16. (5), 1264-1270. Solar CO2 gasification of coal was demonstrated under direct irradiation of the fluidized coal bed with the concentrated visible light from a solar furnace simulator in a small-scale quartz reactor. Pulverized Australian bituminous coal (the average particle size of 140 pm) was tested. The peak energy-flux density, FD eak of the incident light beam was varied up to 1270 kW m ‘. Tl!e light-tochemical (enthalpy) energy conversion via the solar gasification increased with increasing the energy-flux density of irradiation The maximum energy conversion of 8% was obtained at the optimum gas velocity for fluidization of 0.96 N m min