Well-to-tank life cycle assessment for coal derived methanol fuel

Five different designs for coal derived methanol fuel well-to-tank processes were analyzed to facilitate the future development and utilization of coal derived methanol fuel technologies in China.Three of the systems were polygeneration systems for coproduction of methanol and electricity with life cycle assessment used to evaluate the environmental effects,energy utilization efficiencies and economic performances.The emissions of seven main pollutants were also analyzed as functions of various parameters.The results show that the methanol and electricity polygeneration systems are better than the stand-alone system in terms of the environmental,energy and economic performances.