Synopsis of C-MU technical contributions to the DOE coal gasification environmental assessment program. Second annual report for July 1977--July 1978

The Department of Energy/Division of Fossil Energy's comprehensive field program for environmental assessment of its high- and low-Btu coal gasification pilot plant installations was initiated to develop the methodology and data base necessary for meaningful assessment of the environmental impact of the processes. Environmental characterization efforts at each pilot plant involve a detailed process engineering analysis of scalable pilot plant environmental characteristics with the goal of establishing strategy and a basis for scale-up to commerical-size installations. Carnegie-Mellon University, the program's assistance, coordination, and evaluation contractor, has performed four basic tasks: strategic development of an effluent data base; analysis of process-related environmental engineering problems; coordination of industrial hygiene sampling and analysis efforts; and environmental assessment support activities. To date, activities have encompassed work with five high-Btu pilot plants (Hygas in Chicago, Ill., Bi-Gas in Homer City, Pa., CO/sub 2/-Acceptor in Rapid City, S.D., the slagging fixed bed gasifier in Grand Forks, N.D., and Synthane in Bruceton, Pa.) and two low-Btu facilities (the Wellman-Galusha gasifier at the Glen Gery Brick Co. in York, Pa. and Combustion Engineering in Windsor, Conn.).