Recently

coal pyrolysis to liquid (CPTL) process and oil shale to liquid (STL) process have developed rapidly for the strategic reserve of energy.This paper reviews major technologies of CPTL and STL process

then compares the two processes from aspects of techno-economic.Result shows that CPTL process consumes 11.4 tonnes low-rank coal per tonne fuel oil while STL process needs 24.5 tonnes oil shale correspondingly;meanwhile

water consumption of CPTL process is 1.4 times than that of STL process.Economic performance shows that the total capital investment of CPTL process is 6510 CNY·t-1 fuel oil while STL process is 5716 CNY·t-1 fuel oil;however

the production cost of CPTL process is 3887 CNY·t-1 fuel oil while STL process costs 4217 CNY·t-1 fuel oil;also

calculating results indicate that the break-even crude oil price of CPTL process and STL process fluctuate at 59-68 USD·bbl-1 and 71-76 USD·bbl-1 separately.Generally speaking

it is necessary to improve and consummate relevant techniques or prolong downstream industrial chain

we can seek a breakthrough from retorting

system integration

comprehensive utilization and poly-generation etc.