scholarly journals Characteristics of Water Contaminants from Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) Process—Effect of Coal Properties and Gasification Pressure

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (20) ◽  
pp. 6533
Author(s):  
Magdalena Pankiewicz-Sperka ◽  
Krzysztof Kapusta ◽  
Wioleta Basa ◽  
Katarzyna Stolecka

One of the most important issues during UCG process is wastewater production and treatment. Condensed gasification wastewater is contaminated by many hazardous compounds. The composition of the generated UCG-derived wastewater may vary depending on the type of gasified coal and conditions of the gasification process. The main purpose of this study was a qualitative and quantitative characterization of the UCG wastewater produced during four different UCG experiments. Experiments were conducted using semi-anthracite and bituminous coal samples at two distinct pressures, i.e., 20 and 40 bar. The conducted studies revealed significant relationships between the physicochemical composition of the wastewater and the coal properties as well as the gasification pressure. The strongest impact is noticeable in the case of organic pollutants, especially phenols, BTEX and PAH’s. The most abundant group of pollutants were phenols. Conducted studies showed significantly higher concentration levels for bituminous coal: 29.25–49.5 mg/L whereas for semi-anthracite effluents these concentrations were in much lower range 2.1–29.7 mg/L. The opposite situation occurs for BTEX, higher concentrations were in wastewater from semi-anthracite gasification: 5483.1–1496.7 µg/L, while in samples from bituminous coal gasification average BTEX concentrations were: 2514.3–1354.4 µg/L. A similar relationship occurs for the PAH’s concentrations. The higher values were in case of wastewater from semi-anthracite coal experiments and were in range 362–1658 µg/L while from bituminous coal gasification PAH’s values are in lower ranges 407–1090 µg/L. The studies conducted have shown that concentrations of phenols, BTEX and PAH’s decrease with increasing pressure. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to enhance the interpretation of the obtained experimental data and showed a very strong relationship between three parameters: phenols, volatile phenols and CODcr.

Author(s):  
Marian Wiatowski ◽  
Roksana Muzyka ◽  
Krzysztof Kapusta ◽  
Maciej Chrubasik

AbstractIn this study, the composition of tars collected during a six-day underground coal gasification (UCG) test at the experimental mine ‘Barbara’ in Poland in 2013 was examined. During the test, tar samples were taken every day from the liquid product separator and analysed by the methods used for testing properties of typical coke oven (coal) tar. The obtained results were compared with each other and with the data for coal tar. As gasification progressed, a decreasing trend in the water content and an increasing trend in the ash content were observed. The tars tested were characterized by large changes in the residue after coking and content of parts insoluble in toluene and by smaller fluctuations in the content of parts insoluble in quinoline. All tested samples were characterized by very high distillation losses, while for samples starting from the third day of gasification, a clear decrease in losses was visible. A chromatographic analysis showed that there were no major differences in composition between the tested tars and that none of the tar had a dominant component such as naphthalene in coal tar. The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in UCG tars is several times lower than that in coal tar. No light monoaromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes—BTEX) were found in the analysed tars, which results from the fact that these compounds, due to their high volatility, did not separate from the process gas in the liquid product separator.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta Marciniak-Kowalska ◽  
Tomasz Niedoba ◽  
Agnieszka Surowiak ◽  
Tadeusz Tumidajski

Abstract This paper presents a comparative analysis of two types of coal taken from the ZG Janina and ZG Wieczorek coalmines. The aim of this study has been to analyze the suitability of the coal in the context of the gasification process. The types of coal vary considerably in terms of their characteristics. Each of them was subjected to treatment in a ten-ringed annular jig. A particle size of 0-18 mm constituted the feed. The separated coal was divided into five layers, each of them containing material from two additional annular jigs. Analysis of their characteristics was carried out for each of the five layers and for both types of coal obtained, taking into account both their physicochemical properties as well as chemical ones. Each of these characteristics was then presented in three-dimensional surface diagrams, where the ordinate (or Y-axis) and abscissa (X-axis) was the particle size and height in which the material ended up in the jig (expressed as a percentage of the total height of the device). On the basis of observations, it was found that the types of coal have different potential for gasification, although both types are within the limits specified on the basis of previous studies. A correlation analysis between particle size and remaining characteristics of coal was carried out for each of the layers, allowing to determine which of the studied characteristics induced changes significant from the point of view of the coal gasification process. The entire research and observation was supported by conclusions and findings, which shall form the basis for further, in-depth analysis of coal.


2012 ◽  
Vol 524-527 ◽  
pp. 56-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Tao Liu ◽  
Hong Yao ◽  
Kai Yao ◽  
Feng Chen ◽  
Guang Qian Luo

According to the temperature, major chemical reactions and gas compositions, the gasification process along the tunnel of underground coal gasification is divided into three zones, i.e. oxidation zone, reduction zone and dry distillation zone. A model test in the laboratory was carried out by using large-scale coal blocks to simulate the coal seam. The characteristics of the “three zones”, and the relation between the temperature and gas composition were also quantitative studied. It provided the necessary basic knowledge for further studying the process of underground coal gasification, including predicting compositions of product gas, life-cycle analyzing, selecting optimistic control parameters and determining suitable gasification craft.


Author(s):  
Michael S. Blinderman

Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is a gasification process carried on in non-mined coal seams using injection and production wells drilled from the surface, converting coal in situ into a product gas usable for chemical processes and power generation. The UCG process developed, refined and practiced by Ergo Exergy Technologies is called the Exergy UCG Technology or εUCG® Technology. The εUCG technology is being applied in numerous power generation and chemical projects worldwide. These include power projects in South Africa (1,200 MWe), India (750 MWe), Pakistan, and Canada, as well as chemical projects in Australia and Canada. A number of εUCG based industrial projects are now at a feasibility stage in New Zealand, USA, and Europe. An example of εUCG application is the Chinchilla Project in Australia where the technology demonstrated continuous, consistent production of commercial quantities of quality fuel gas for over 30 months. The project is currently targeting a 24,000 barrel per day synthetic diesel plant based on εUCG syngas supply. The εUCG technology has demonstrated exceptional environmental performance. The εUCG methods and techniques of environmental management are an effective tool to ensure environmental protection during an industrial application. A εUCG-IGCC power plant will generate electricity at a much lower cost than existing or proposed fossil fuel power plants. CO2 emissions of the plant can be reduced to a level 55% less than those of a supercritical coal-fired plant and 25% less than the emissions of NG CC.


Fuel ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 1454-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Dufaux ◽  
Bénédicte Gaveau ◽  
René Létolle ◽  
Marc Mostade ◽  
Marianne Noël ◽  
...  

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (20) ◽  
pp. 6464
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Skrzypkowski ◽  
Krzysztof Zagórski ◽  
Anna Zagórska

This article presents the results of laboratory tests regarding the influence of high temperatures on changes in the strength and structural parameters of rocks that are present in the immediate vicinity of a gasification channel. Sandstone and claystone samples were heated at 300 °C, 600 °C, 900 °C and 1200 °C. Additionally, the heated samples were placed in water for 24 h. The results of the laboratory tests were used in the numerical simulation using RS2 software. The main goal of modeling was to determine the extent of the rock destruction zone around the gasification channel for dry and wet rock masses. In the numerical simulations, three widths of the gasification channel and three ranges of high-temperature impact were modeled. On the basis of the obtained results, it was found that the extent of rock destruction, both in the roof and in the floor, is greater by several percent for a wet rock mass. For the first time, this research presents the effect of water on heated rock samples in terms of the underground coal gasification process. The results of laboratory tests and numerical simulations clearly indicate a reduction in strength, deformation and structural parameters for the temperature of 1200 °C.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5816
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Kapusta

Two experimental simulations of underground coal gasification (UCG) processes, using large bulk samples of lignites, were conducted in a surface laboratory setup. Two different lignite samples were used for the oxygen-blown experiments, i.e., “Velenje” meta-lignite (Slovenia) and “Oltenia” ortho-lignite (Romania). The average moisture content of the samples was 31.6wt.% and 45.6wt.% for the Velenje and Oltenia samples, respectively. The main aim of the study was to assess the suitability of the tested lignites for the underground coal gasification process. The gas composition and its production rates, as well as the temperatures in the artificial seams, were continuously monitored during the experiments. The average calorific value of gas produced during the Velenje lignite experiment (6.4 MJ/Nm3) was much higher compared to the result obtained for the experiment with Oltenia lignite (4.8 MJ/Nm3). The Velenje lignite test was also characterized by significantly higher energy efficiency, i.e., 44.6%, compared to the gasification of Oltenia lignite (33.4%). The gasification experiments carried out showed that the physicochemical properties of the lignite used considerably affect the in situ gasification process. Research also indicates that UCG can be considered as a viable option for the extraction of lignite deposits; however, lignites with a lower moisture content and higher energy density are preferred, due to their much higher process efficiency.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (6 Part B) ◽  
pp. 4067-4081
Author(s):  
David Petrovic ◽  
Lazar Kricak ◽  
Milanka Negovanovic ◽  
Stefan Milanovic ◽  
Jovan Markovic ◽  
...  

In the name of a better and safer energy future, it is our responsibility to focus our knowledge and activities to save on imported liquid and gas fossil fuels, as well as coal on which energy security of Serbia is based. The rationalization in the use of available energy resources certainly positively affects economy and the environment of a country. This paper indicates motivations for the application of the underground coal gasification process, as well as surface gasification for Serbia. The goal is to burn less coal, while simultaneously utilizing more gas from the onsite underground coal gasification, or by gasification in various types of gas generators mounted on the surface. In both cases, from the obtained gas, CO2, NOx, and other harmful gases are extracted in scrubbers. This means that further gas combustion byproducts do not pollute the atmosphere in comparison with traditional coal combustion. In addition, complete underground coal gasification power requirements could be offset by the onsite solar photovoltaic power plant, which furthermore enhances environmental concerns of the overall coal utilization.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document