The Carbon Engineering Initiative (CEI) focuses on supporting existing markets and creating new markets for Wyoming coal by growing the demand for coal as a feedstock that can be converted into chemical and high-performance engineered products that have greater value than that of the Btu component of the coal itself.
It primarily seeks to develop original patentable intellectual property to process and make value added, novel products that can be deployed as standalone solutions or used to augment technology developed by others.
THERMO-CHEMICAL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY
Thermal coal solvent extraction is a versatile conversion process that yields high volumes of liquids and extracts
which are the building-blocks to make a wide range of engineered molecules. The solvent
used can be rejuvenated and recycled, making the process low cost to operate and therefore
highly competitive.
Fast pyrolysis processing consists of rapidly subjecting coal to extremely high temperatures for very short
periods of time, in an inert or hydrogen rich environment. While liquids are produced,
control of the process produces ultra-high purity coal chars suited to make agricultural
products, building materials, electrical devices, health-care products and reinforcements
and fillers for composite material solutions.
Dry methane reforming technology takes the carbon dioxide liberated from the flash pyrolysis processing platform,
and when mixed with methane, produces a one-to-one ratio of high-quality synthesis
gas (CO+H2). The gas is then used to manufacture the high-demand solvents and chemicals used
in making coal-derived engineered products on-site, or it is sold as a commodity product.
BULDING AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
The CCCC has completed a design for a building, that will demonstrate the performance of various coal derived construction products including char-bricks, dry wall boarding, plaster, structural members, roofing and waterproofing materials. The building will be constructed on the UW campus for monitoring.
ASPHALT, PAVING, AND ROOFING MATERIALS
A baseline formulation of coal-derived asphalt has been produced, using the extract intermediate that is yielded from solvent extraction of raw PRB coal. These formulations can be customized to suit the properties required for either whole paving or roofing applications.
AGRICULTURAL SOIL AMENDMENT PRODUCTS
Greenhouse studies at the UW Laramie Research and Extension Center (LREC) and field trials in different parts of Wyoming are underway. Crops under evaluation include corn (grain and silage production) at the UW Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC) at Lingle WY, and sugar beet (beet and silage production) at the UW Powell Research and Extension Center (PREC). Another new field experiment is established for reclamation of disturbed mineland near Gillette, WY.
CLEAN COMBUSTION WITH INTEGRATED CARBON CAPTURE
The CCCC seeks to create a sustainable demand for coal as an energy fuel by developing and supporting technologies that permit clean, high efficiency combustion with integrated CO2 capture that are technically and economically viable.The Center is working with the Wyoming oil and gas industry to host a pre-commercial demonstration of flameless pressurized (FPO) oxy-fuel combustion, incorporating CO2 utilization.
UPGRADE WYOMING COAL FOR ENERGY USE
The CCCC seeks to improve the efficient and effective clean burning characteristics of Wyoming Powder River Basin (PRB) coal, and is collaborating with technology companies to bring their solutions to the state.