Liquidation of Coal for India's Energy Independence: An Alternative Source

- Discovery-Dr. Vihari shadow

- Coal from which less energy is available is considered light coal. Half of every two tonnes of coal mined is light

We all know that the financial situation of the countries of the world, and especially of countries like India, is under severe pressure due to the ever-rising price of crude oil. Prices go up by leaps and bounds. At such times it is necessary to reduce our dependence on petroleum and increase the use of other sources of energy to meet our energy needs. The usefulness of petrol, diesel, kerosene obtained from refining of mineral oil is that it can be easily transported from one place to another. The rapid development of auto vehicles and airplanes in particular is attributed to these qualities. Petrol-diesel and kerosene are like the 'lifeline' of our economy.

In our country a large amount of coal is mined or stored in the ground. It has the technology to liquefy coal and convert it into crude oil. If we want to reduce our dependence on crude oil known as mineral oil, we are considering setting up a huge factory to make crude oil from coal. Coal is still being used as a source of energy. Coal is used as a source of energy in many power plants and factories in this country. That's why people often call him a black hero. Millions of years ago, fossils of animals and plants, as well as rivers, had been crushed into coal.

Coal is found in mines. There are mainly three varieties: anthracite, bituminous and lignite. The third type of lignite is the lighter type of coal. The first two types of coal in the world amount to about 3 billion tons. Most of these are in the US, Russia, and China. India is estimated to have about 1.5 per cent of the world's estimated coal. Zaria in Bihar and Raniganj in West Bengal have most of our country's coal. There are also coal mines in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. Lighter type of coal i.e. lignite is found in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The process of converting coal into liquid hydrocarbons, liquid fuels and petrochemicals is called coal liquefaction. Coal liquefaction technology is not new. The technology first appeared in the 150's. The Nazi government in Germany then used that process to power the World War II war system. After the war it could not compete with fuel, mineral oil. But in the last few decades, South Africa has taken over. Due to its apartheid policy, it was constantly threatened with a ban on the sale of crude oil. That day he took this path as a way to avoid it. Today, it holds key patents for parts of the nation's energy giant Sasol, which makes crude oil from coal.

Now this technology has gradually improved a lot. This technology is also called 'CTL' technology. 'CTL' means 'call to liquid' technology. South Africa has been producing liquefied fuel from coal for about 15 years. Today, the South African company Sasol has built three CTL plants that together produce more than 150,000 barrels of liquid fuel per day from coal, which is about 40 per cent of South Africa's transport fuel requirement. Currently, more than 50 CTPL plants are under construction worldwide. India also has significant coal reserves so such 'CTL' plants could be an alternative source of liquid fuel in India.

To make crude oil from coal, the first coal is mixed with oxygen and steam at high temperature and pressure. So that carbon monoxide and hydrogen are formed. The second stage involves the conversion of gas into a synthetic crude liquid using a catalyst. It is further purified. During that process mercury, sulfur ammonia and other chemicals are obtained from it. Which can be sold separately.

Coal from which less energy is available is considered light coal. Half of every two tonnes of coal mined is light. Existing facilities are not able to burn it. Lighter coal types include lignite and bituminous types of coal. The fuel obtained by liquefying this coal is even purer than conventional sulfur free diesel. Fuel obtained from coal can be said to be unclean at the place of origin. It emits 10 percent carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and 20 percent particles. But this is the use of its tip and now the technology has been developed that can solve this defect. Where it proves clean. Thus pure gases and liquids obtained from coal

The products are likely to have significant use in the future. Synthetic transport fuels obtained from liquefaction of coal are clean so there is no risk of sulfur emissions from them as they are used as fuel. Nitrous oxides, particles, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are also emitted in very small amounts.

Thus the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research Dhanbad (CSIR-CIMFR) in India has set up a national facility for coal liquefaction and conversion to diesel. The pilot plant mainly consists of two sections: (1) gasification of coal and (2) liquefaction by fisher troop route. The existing plant is a process development unit (UGH) which processes coal gasification, high pressure compression, liquefaction and finally discharge of fuel and other products. The plant then produces five liters of liquid hydrocarbons per day. The organization is seeking partnerships with private companies to enhance and diversify the technology developed by the organization.

From the pace at which China and India are growing, it seems that by 2020, China will need 120 million barrels of crude oil a day and India 60 million barrels a day. Against this, the world's crude oil production is eight and a half crore barrels a day and if it does not increase much, what is the solution? India has 200 billion tonnes of coal stored in the ground. It is number four in the world. The top two countries, the United States and China, have set up factories to make crude oil from coal. The Government of India should also promote a project to get fuel like diesel or crude oil from coal to meet the shortage of crude oil in India through a partnership of private companies and leading foreign companies.