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Underground Coal Gasification: Clean Technology of the Coal Energy Conversion
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Underground Coal Gasification: Clean Technology of the Coal Energy Conversion

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2024) | Viewed by 9502

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marek Laciak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty BERG, Technical University of Kosice, Letná 1/9, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
Interests: modeling; monitoring; and control of technological processes; indirect measurement systems; underground coal gasification (UCG)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ján Kačur

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty BERG, Technical University of Kosice, Letná 1/9, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
Interests: automation and control of technological processes; design and implementation of monitoring and control systems for underground coal gasification (UCG); optimal and adaptive control; indirect measurement systems; time series prediction; SCADA/HMI and Java applications; programming of supporting software applications for automation and control technological processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Milan Durdán

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty BERG, Technical University of Kosice, Letná 1/9, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
Interests: modeling, monitoring, and control of technological processes; mathematical modeling of technological processes and their application in the design and creation of simulation model; underground coal gasification (UCG)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on energy conversion processes in underground coal gasification (UCG), including the modelling and optimization of this process and the impact of UCG technology on the environment. UCG technology is an unconventional and new coal mining method. This continually evolving technology is a large energy source that can be obtained at a lower cost and safer than convection mining. The UCG process transforms the coal's energy into the gas produced (i.e., syngas). For successful energy conversion, i.e., obtaining syngas with a higher calorific value, it is essential to develop new methods, approaches, and physical and mathematical models. The developed methods and models can improve the prediction of the UCG process state. We should not forget that this technology is also associated with many underground uncertainties and environmental impacts.

The purpose of the Special Issue is to expand the experience and knowledge of researchers worldwide. Today, it is very important to join the efforts of researchers in order to improve scientific thought in economic, engineering, and environmental vision. The results of various research and experiments in this field around the world are currently being analysed, which may be part of this Special Issue of Energies.

We invite you to submit your original papers to the Special Issue "Underground Coal Gasification: Clean Technology of the Coal Energy Conversion", and we look forward to receiving your outstanding research.

Prof. Dr. Marek Laciak
Dr. Ján Kačur
Dr. Milan Durdán
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • UCG process
  • energy conversion
  • coal´s energy
  • environment
  • modeling

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 7065 KiB  
Article
Large-Scale Experimental Simulations of In Situ Coal Gasification in Terms of Process Efficiency and Physicochemical Properties of Process By-Products
by Marian Wiatowski, Krzysztof Kapusta, Aleksandra Strugała-Wilczek, Krzysztof Stańczyk, Alberto Castro-Muñiz, Fabián Suárez-García and Juan Ignacio Paredes
Energies 2023, 16(11), 4455; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16114455 - 31 May 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1267
Abstract
This paper presents a series of surface experiments simulating underground coal gasification (UCG). The main goal of the experiments was to investigate the influence of the gasification medium and the coal rank on the gasification process. Four multi-day trials were carried out using [...] Read more.
This paper presents a series of surface experiments simulating underground coal gasification (UCG). The main goal of the experiments was to investigate the influence of the gasification medium and the coal rank on the gasification process. Four multi-day trials were carried out using a laboratory gasification facility designed for the large-scale experimental simulations of UCG and located in the Experimental Mine “Barbara”, located at Mikołów, Poland. Two Polish bituminous coals were investigated: coal sourced from “Piast-Ziemowit” mine and coal sourced from “Wesoła” mine. Each of the two coals was gasified in two separate experiments using oxygen-enriched air (OEA) and pure oxygen as the respective gasifying agents. Gasification with oxygen resulted in significantly higher gas quality and higher process efficiency than gasification with OEA. Higher concentrations of hydrogen (23.2% and 25.5%) and carbon monoxide (31.8% and 33.4%) were obtained when oxygen was used as a gasifying reagent, while lower concentrations were obtained in the case of gasification with OEA (7.1% and 9.5% of hydrogen; 6.4% and 19.7% of carbon monoxide). Average gas calorific values were 7.96 MJ/Nm3 and 9.14 MJ/Nm3 for the oxygen experiments, compared to 2.25 MJ/Nm3 and 3.44 MJ/Nm3 for the OEA experiments (“Piast-Ziemowit” coal and “Wesoła” coal, respectively). The higher coalification degree of “Wesoła” coal (82.01% of carbon) compared to the “Piast-Ziemowit” coal (68.62% of carbon) definitely improves the gas quality and energy efficiency of the process. The rate of water condensate production was higher for the oxygen gasification process (5.01 kg/h and 3.63 kg/h) compared to the OEA gasification process (4.18 kg/h and 2.63 kg/h, respectively), regardless of the type of gasified coal. Additionally, the textural characteristics (porosity development) of the chars remaining after coal gasification experiments were analyzed. A noticeable development of pores larger than 0.7 nm was only observed for the less coalified “Piast-Ziemowit” coal when analyzed under the more reactive atmosphere of oxygen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underground Coal Gasification: Clean Technology of the Coal Energy Conversion)
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23 pages, 3959 KiB  
Article
An Experimental Study on the Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Tar Formed during Ex Situ Coal Gasification
by Marian Wiatowski
Energies 2023, 16(6), 2777; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16062777 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3369
Abstract
Over the three-day gasification test of a large coal block with oxygen in atmospheric pressure conditions, the yield and composition of the tar collected was investigated. The tar was sampled approximately every 7 h into sorption tubes directly from the reactor outlet. Sand, [...] Read more.
Over the three-day gasification test of a large coal block with oxygen in atmospheric pressure conditions, the yield and composition of the tar collected was investigated. The tar was sampled approximately every 7 h into sorption tubes directly from the reactor outlet. Sand, with a moisture content of 11%, was used as an insulating material to simulate the environment of the gasified coal seam. Light aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX), phenols, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the tar. The results that were obtained were recalculated into the concentrations of the individual components of the tar and its mass stream in the process gas. The residence time of the tar in the reactor, its molar mass, and the H/C ratio were also calculated. As the reaction progressed, the water that was contained in the wet sand started to react with the gasified coal, which significantly affected the composition and amount of the obtained process gas and the produced tar. Due to an increase in the amount of generated gases and steam, the residence time of the tar vapours in the reactor decreased as the gasification progressed, ranging from approximately 1 s at the beginning of the process to 0.35 s at the end. The obtained tar was characterised by a high average content of BTEX fractions at approximately 82.6%, PAHs at 14.7%, and phenols at 2.7%. Benzene was the dominant BTEX compound, with a concentration of 83.7%. The high content of the BTEX compounds, especially benzene, was a result of secondary processes taking place in the tar (hydrocracking and steam reforming), and as a result of which, in the presence of hydrogen and steam, the heavier components of the tar were transformed into lighter ones. The total yield of the tar from this UCG (underground coal gasification) process—calculated per 1 ton of gasified coal—was 1.8% (counted on the basis of the analysed tar composition). Comparing this result to the efficiency of the classic coking process, the tar yield was about three times lower. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underground Coal Gasification: Clean Technology of the Coal Energy Conversion)
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Review

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36 pages, 4181 KiB  
Review
A Review of Research on Advanced Control Methods for Underground Coal Gasification Processes
by Ján Kačur, Marek Laciak, Milan Durdán, Patrik Flegner and Rebecca Frančáková
Energies 2023, 16(8), 3458; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16083458 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1904
Abstract
Underground coal gasification (UCG) is a clean coal mining technology without significant environmental impacts. This technology can also be used in deep, hard-to-reach seams or deposits affected by tectonic disturbances, where conventional mining is impossible. Several techniques and methods have been investigated worldwide [...] Read more.
Underground coal gasification (UCG) is a clean coal mining technology without significant environmental impacts. This technology can also be used in deep, hard-to-reach seams or deposits affected by tectonic disturbances, where conventional mining is impossible. Several techniques and methods have been investigated worldwide to support the process control of UCG. Global research focuses on the control of UCG operating parameters to stabilize or to optimize the performance of the underground reactor during energy conversion. This paper studies recent research in the field of UCG control and compares individual control techniques and possibilities for practical application. The paper focuses on advanced control methods that can be implemented in an in situ control system (e.g., adaptive control, extremum seeking control, and robust control). The study investigates control methods that ensure desired syngas calorific value or maximization. The review showed that robust control techniques such as sliding mode control and model predictive control have the most significant potential, and achieve the best results despite their complexity. In addition, some methods have been investigated through simulation or experimentally. The paper aims to give the reader an overview of the given issue and to alert the practice to recent research in the given area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underground Coal Gasification: Clean Technology of the Coal Energy Conversion)
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21 pages, 8515 KiB  
Review
A Review of Research on Cavity Growth in the Context of Underground Coal Gasification
by Huijun Fang, Yuewu Liu, Tengze Ge, Taiyi Zheng, Yueyu Yu, Danlu Liu, Jiuge Ding and Longlong Li
Energies 2022, 15(23), 9252; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15239252 - 6 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2065
Abstract
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is a leading-edge technology for clean and effective utilization of coal resources, especially for deep coal seams with a depth of more than 1000 m. Since the core operation place of UCG is the cavity, mastering the cavity growth [...] Read more.
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is a leading-edge technology for clean and effective utilization of coal resources, especially for deep coal seams with a depth of more than 1000 m. Since the core operation place of UCG is the cavity, mastering the cavity growth pattern is a prerequisite to ensure the efficient and economic development of UCG. At present, scholars have conducted numerous research works on cavity growth, but the simulation conditions limit the research results. Hence, it is necessary to summarize and sort out the research results of cavity growth patterns, which contribute to deepening the understanding of UCG and pointing out the direction for subsequent research. First of all, this paper summarizes the development history of UCG technology and describes the cavity growth mechanism from chemical reactions and thermo-mechanical failure. Then, the research methods of cavity growth are summarized from three aspects: a field test, laboratory experiment, and numerical simulation. The results show that the appearance of the cavity is teardrop-shaped, and its growth direction is obviously related to the gas injection method, including the injection direction and rate. Subsequently, the factors affecting the cavity growth process are expounded from the geological factors (permeability, moisture content, and coal rank) and operating factors (temperature, pressure, gasification agent’s composition, and gasification agent’s flow pattern). Finally, the existing problems and development trends in the cavity growth are discussed. The follow-up research direction should focus on clarifying the cavity growth mechanism of the controlled-retractable-injection-point (CRIP) method of UCG in the deep coal seam and ascertain the influence of the moisture content in the coal seam on cavity growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underground Coal Gasification: Clean Technology of the Coal Energy Conversion)
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