The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental Study
The underground coal gasification (UCG) process represents a modern and effective coal mining technology that enables coal energy extraction through thermic decomposition. The coal is transformed into syngas by oxidizers (e.g., air, technical oxygen, or water steam) and is injected into a georeactor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/7/3266 |
| _version_ | 1797607987729137664 |
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| author | Marek Laciak Milan Durdán Ján Kačur Patrik Flegner |
| author_facet | Marek Laciak Milan Durdán Ján Kačur Patrik Flegner |
| author_sort | Marek Laciak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The underground coal gasification (UCG) process represents a modern and effective coal mining technology that enables coal energy extraction through thermic decomposition. The coal is transformed into syngas by oxidizers (e.g., air, technical oxygen, or water steam) and is injected into a georeactor. The produced syngas is exhausted on the surface, where it is transformed into the desired form of energy. This paper presents an experimental study of two experiments performed in ex-situ reactors. The paper describes the equipment for the UCG process, the physical models of the coal seam, and the analysis of coal. The obtained results from the experiments are presented as the behavior of the temperatures in the coal during the experiment, the syngas composition, and its calorific value. The material balance and effective gasification time of the UCG process were also identified for the individual experiments. The aim was to evaluate the impact of the coal seam model on the gasification process efficiency. Calculating the material balance during the gasification appears to be an effective tool for assessing leaks in the reactor while measuring the flow and concentration of the oxidizers and produced gas. The material balance data are make it possible to propose methods for controlling the input oxidizers. To increase the efficiency of the gasification in an ex-situ reactor, it is necessary to ensure the impermeable or poorly permeable surrounding layers of the coal seam. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:38:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed3095fd62e8443ca00343d52ea2110c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:38:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed3095fd62e8443ca00343d52ea2110c2023-11-17T16:39:39ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-04-01167326610.3390/en16073266The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental StudyMarek Laciak0Milan Durdán1Ján Kačur2Patrik Flegner3Faculty BERG, Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Technical University of Košice, Němcovej 3, 04200 Košice, SlovakiaFaculty BERG, Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Technical University of Košice, Němcovej 3, 04200 Košice, SlovakiaFaculty BERG, Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Technical University of Košice, Němcovej 3, 04200 Košice, SlovakiaFaculty BERG, Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Technical University of Košice, Němcovej 3, 04200 Košice, SlovakiaThe underground coal gasification (UCG) process represents a modern and effective coal mining technology that enables coal energy extraction through thermic decomposition. The coal is transformed into syngas by oxidizers (e.g., air, technical oxygen, or water steam) and is injected into a georeactor. The produced syngas is exhausted on the surface, where it is transformed into the desired form of energy. This paper presents an experimental study of two experiments performed in ex-situ reactors. The paper describes the equipment for the UCG process, the physical models of the coal seam, and the analysis of coal. The obtained results from the experiments are presented as the behavior of the temperatures in the coal during the experiment, the syngas composition, and its calorific value. The material balance and effective gasification time of the UCG process were also identified for the individual experiments. The aim was to evaluate the impact of the coal seam model on the gasification process efficiency. Calculating the material balance during the gasification appears to be an effective tool for assessing leaks in the reactor while measuring the flow and concentration of the oxidizers and produced gas. The material balance data are make it possible to propose methods for controlling the input oxidizers. To increase the efficiency of the gasification in an ex-situ reactor, it is necessary to ensure the impermeable or poorly permeable surrounding layers of the coal seam.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/7/3266underground coal gasificationex-situ reactorsyngasexperimentmaterial balanceefficiency |
| spellingShingle | Marek Laciak Milan Durdán Ján Kačur Patrik Flegner The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental Study Energies underground coal gasification ex-situ reactor syngas experiment material balance efficiency |
| title | The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental Study |
| title_full | The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental Study |
| title_fullStr | The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental Study |
| title_short | The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental Study |
| title_sort | underground coal gasification process in laboratory conditions an experimental study |
| topic | underground coal gasification ex-situ reactor syngas experiment material balance efficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/7/3266 |
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