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<br />:'? <br /> <br />m <br />co <br />(J <br />~ <br />( \ AQUATRAIN <br />c:) April 1983 <br /> <br />Section 3. The AQUATRAIN project <br /> <br />evaluated. Pilot plant tests show that liquid CO2 can carry nearly six <br />times more pulverized coal in the same diameter p1pe than a conventional <br />coal slurry mixture with water. Also, single stage separation of coal <br />from CO2 by gravity has been proven in the pilot plant removing one of <br />the major financial and technological drawbacks of water slurries. <br /> <br />Additional commodities to be transported in liquid CO , such as soda ash, <br />grain, and clay products, need laboratory and pilot pfant testing. <br /> <br />The CO2 technology appears to be the most cost effective way to meet the <br />critical project objective of ~titive product transportation in a <br />pipeline system. <br /> <br />The AQUATRAIN system could use multiple pipelines installed in the same <br />corridor over portions of the route. This would allow coal and saline <br />water to be carried in separate pipelines. Should, for example, one <br />pipeline need repair, the other pipeline could ensure consistent, <br />uninterrupted product delivery. In normal use, it is envisioned that <br />an additional pipe could be used for recycling CO2 back to the system's <br />loading points. Availability of liquid CO2 in the pipeline would allow <br />numerous loading points, facilitating part1cipation of small coal producers <br />along the pipeline corridor. The actual configuration and sizing of pipes <br />will be based on many factors including: throughput, location, environment, <br />cost, and reliability. <br /> <br />AQUATRAIN is an evolutionary project, and all feasible technologies are <br />being considered. To date, however, the liquid CO2 method appears to <br />be the most promising. <br /> <br />Corridor Selection <br /> <br />Various pipeline corridors have been identified by the Bureau of Reclamation <br />with the assistanee of the Bureau of Land Management. That identification <br />process entailed a comparison of saline water sources, previously evaluated <br />pipeline routes, and expressions of interest received by Aquatrain, Inc., <br />from potential participants. The proposed route for AQUATRAIN (see Map A) <br />will follow, for the most part, existing corridors (e.g., highways and <br />existing pipelines), thus reducing certain environmental impacts. Industry <br />and public co.ments are now being sought to evaluate preliminary alternatives, <br />with corridor selection anticipated by late summer 1983 when a plan formulation <br />document is scheduled for completion. Detailed environmental analyses <br />along the corridor route will follow. <br /> <br />Sources and Markets <br /> <br />Conceptually, <br />saline water, <br />Major deposit <br /> <br />the pipeline would originate in southwestern Wyoming where <br />coal deposits, CO2, and other COmmodities are readily available. <br />of trona, an ore from which soda ash is made, are also available <br /> <br />8 <br />