This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Tom Lawrence
Franz Fischer (1877-1947), a German chemist who, along with Hans Tropsch, invented in 1923 a revolutionary new process for converting solid fuels to liquid fuels. Fisher’s work, spanning several decades, was key in fulfilling the German's plan to always keep a plentiful supply of petroleum. Fischer and others invented and developed two processes that enabled them to synthesize petroleum from their country's abundant coal supplies, and to establish the world's first technologically successful synthetic liquid fuel industry. By the end of World War II, nine Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) plants were in operation in Germany, supplying significant amounts of fuel for the German war effort. Refinements to the Fischer-Tropsch process have improved its efficiency, although its commercial success hinges on a plentiful supply of cheap coal and the price of the synthetic fuel relative to conventional oil. Due to Fischer’s efforts, South Africa has a successful coal-to-liquids synfuel industry.
Cutler Cleveland (Lead Author);Tom Lawrence (Topic Editor) "Fischer, Franz". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth September 6, 2006; Last revised Date September 6, 2006; Retrieved May 23, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Fischer,_Franz>
The Author
Editor-in-Chief
The Encyclopedia of Earth Cutler J. Cleveland is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. Dr. Cleveland is currently a Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Boston University, with joint appointments in the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies and the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future. He also is a Senior Fellow at the National Council for Science and the Environment in Washington D.C. Dr. Cleveland is als ... (Full Bio)
Franz Fischer (1877-1947), a German chemist who, along with Hans Tropsch, invented in 1923 a revolutionary new process for converting solid fuels to liquid fuels. Fisher’s work, spanning several decades, was key in fulfilling the German's plan to always keep a plentiful supply of petroleum. Fischer and others invented and developed two processes that enabled them to synthesize petroleum from their country's abundant coal supplies, and to establish the world's first technologically successful synthetic liquid fuel industry. By the end of World War II, nine Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) plants were in operation in Germany, supplying significant amounts of fuel for the German war effort. Refinements to the Fischer-Tropsch process have improved its efficiency, although its commercial success hinges on a plentiful supply of cheap coal and the price of the synthetic fuel relative to conventional oil. Due to Fischer’s efforts, South Africa has a successful coal-to-liquids synfuel industry.
Contact Us
Send to a Friend
Comments
There are no comments.