Perspectives for manufacturing methanol at fuel value

In the past few decades, numerous studies have been carried out on the potential applications of methanol as fuel, for both the transportation and the power generation sectors. These fuel applications require significant reductions in manufacturing cost, particularly in plant investment. The present study evaluates the savings in investment that could be achieved by applying various emerging manufacturing technologies. The most advanced technologies are based on the intermediate production of synthesis gas. They are based on new re-forming technologies or various ''once-through'' methanol synthesis schemes. The newest manufacturing technologies either proceed via methyl chloride or methyl bisulfate or apply direct partial oxidation. From our study, we conclude that none of the technologies proposed, whether based on synthesis gas or not, can offer large savings in investment unless they can be scaled up by a factor 4-8 above the conventional capacity of 2.5 kt/d.