From Rentechinc.com (RTK):
In a report issued from the third International Fuel Cell Conference at Nagoya, Japan in 1999 entitled "Gas-To-Liquids Synthetic Fuels For Use In Fuel Cell: Reformability, Energy Density, And Infrastructure Compatibility," the authors conclusions were that GTL fuels could accelerate the commercialization of fuel cells more so than other fuels being considered because of their clean qualities, high hydrogen content and ease of distribution.
The environmental characteristics of fuels made from gas-to-liquids (GTL) processes have been known for many years. Because GTL fuels contain no sulfur, aromatic compounds or metals, and having a high cetane number in comparison to standard diesel fuels, it is a very clean burning fuel which substantially reduces emissions when compared to other fuels.
In recent testing, the qualities which have shown GTL fuels to be a clear alternative to address new emission standards for cleaner air are also proving to be the very same characteristics that will make an excellent feedstock for fuel cell technology. GTL fuels contain high amounts of hydrogen, twice that of methanol. Hydrogen is the fuel necessary to generate power for a fuel cell. GTL fuels being devoid of sulfur, aromatics and metals allow for little or no residue build up in the fuel cell process unlike other fuels being studied. Additionally , the fact that GTL fuels can be delivered through the existing infrastructure makes the use of GTL fuels for fuel cells practical and more economical than other fuels.
Whether made either from iron-based catalyst, such as that used in the Rentech GTL process, or cobalt, GTL fuels have the same basic characteristics that make them excellent candidates for use in fuel cells. Additionally, Rentech’s GTL process produces excess hydrogen when making GTL products from natural gas which is an excellent source of low cost hydrogen for stationary fuel cells which could be utilized to generate power at a Rentech GTL facility.
On January 11, 2000, Rentech, Inc. of Denver, Colorado and Republic Financial Corporation of Aurora, Colorado, announced the acquisition of the assets of the "Sand Creek" methanol facility located on 17 acres in Commerce City, Colorado. Rentech Development Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rentech, Inc., and RFC-Sand Creek development, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Financial Corporation, each own 50% of Sand Creek Energy LLC, the new owner of the facility. Sand Creek Energy is developing a plan to convert the methanol plant into what could be the first Gas-to-Liquids plant in the United States which would supply commercial quantities of high value fuels including cleaner burning sulfur and aromatic free diesel fuel, fuel which could be used for fuel cells and other high value products made from natural gas.. The plant will be designed to produce approximately 800-1000 barrels per day of GTL products. As of February 1, 2000 no other GTL competitor has announced a domestic commercial scale GTL plant that will be in operation in this time frame. |
