Co-generation system for co-producing clean, coal-based fuels and electricity

A method of generating electrical power in conjunction with production of coal-derived fuel products comprising the steps of

• a. refining a volatile-containing carbonaceous material to produce char, hydrocarbon liquids, and gases by heating a particulate volatile-containing carbonaceous material at a heat rate sufficient to maximize the decomposition and minimize formation of char and condensation products to a volatilization temperature effective to produce a substantially decomposed volatilization products and then contacting said substantially decomposed volatilization product with a hydrogen donor-rich gaseous atmosphere at a hydrogenation temperature effective to minimize formation of condensation products and reduce thermal cracking for a hydrogen residence time effect to produce a hydrogenated volatilization product;
• b. gasifying at least a portion of said char in a gasifier to produce a syngas and high pressure steam;
• c. utilizing said high pressure steam to turn a steam electrical generating turbine;
• d. utilizing said syngas to produce methanol and purge gas in a once-through methanol synthesis;
• e. utilizing the purge gas as a fuel for a gas electric generating turbine;
• and
• f. transferring at least a portion of the waste heat from said electric generating turbine for use as at least part of the heat to carry out the refining.