P&W Rocketdyne Celebrates Commissioning of Commercial-Scale Prototype Dry Solids Pump to Provide High-Efficiency, Low-Emission Gasification

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne celebrated the commissioning of a commercial-scale dry-solids pump – a revolutionary feed system integrated with PWR’s compact gasifier to efficiently gasify coal, petcoke and other solid fuels. The dry-solids pump, located at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota, is the latest step toward global commercialization of innovative technology designed to lower energy costs, provide a clean alternative fuel source and strengthen U.S. energy security.

The 400-ton per day prototype dry-solids feed pump system, developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, will be used to test petcoke, bituminous and sub-bituminous coals over the next 12 months. The commissioning is a collaborative effort between the EERC; Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL); ExxonMobil; and the Alberta Energy Research Institute.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's press release.

Coverage:

• Rocket developer, EERC begin testing solids pump for gasification (Biomass Magazine)
• NETL: Project could make coal gasification 'economically competitive' (The State Journal)
• EERC works toward goal of clean coal at less cost (Dickinson Press)
• New high-pressure dry-solids feed pump could make high-efficiency, lower-emission gasification economically competitive (Green Car Congress)
• Opening New Avenues for High-Efficiency, Low-Emission Coal Gasification (U.S. Dept. of Energy)
  

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Signs Agreement for Commercial-Scale Gasification Demonstration Plant in China

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has signed a negotiation framework agreement with two energy industry leaders to design, construct and operate a commercial-scale advanced gasification demonstration plant in China’s central eastern Henan Province. The agreement is a key step toward commercializing technology designed to lower the cost of coal gasification and provide an alternative fuel source that reduces water use and carbon dioxide emissions.

Under the framework, Zhongyuan Da Hua Group Company Ltd. and East China Engineering Science & Technology Company will share development costs for construction and operation of a demonstration plant with Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, subject to the terms of a formal agreement currently being negotiated between the parties.

Click here to read the press release from Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.

Coverage:

• P&W Rocketdyne signs agreement for China commercial-scale gasification demonstration plant (Industrial Fuels and Power)
• China seeks energy-tech license from UTC (Hartford Business Journal)