Abstract
Underground Coal Gasification represents an alternative for conventional coal mining. This technology is also less expensive than traditional mining. It is expected that coal will be an important energy source in the coming decades. In requirement to improve the gasification process we must ensure that the combustion reactions generated enough energy to heat the reactants. This can be achieved by controlling the flow of oxidizing agents and the underpressure control at the exit of the reactor UCG. This paper aims to propose the stabilization of air flow as a main gasification agent injected to the gasifier, underground temperature and concentration of O2 in syngas. Also there is proposed the mechanism that could cope with uncertainties in the process of UCG and its control on stabilization level. Paper presents utilization of discrete controller with adaptation in order to stabilization of UCG process variables. The controllers were verified on experimental ex-situ reactor (generator).
Highlights
Successful application of the UCG (Underground Coal Gasification) process requires integration of a wide range of technical disciplines, which explains its slow commercial acceptance
Air flow stabilization A basic variable in the control of the gasification process is the air flow that is supplied to the experimental gasifier
The servo valve behind the pressure vessel was connected to the control programmable logic controller (PLC) that was operated via two digital signals
Summary
Successful application of the UCG (Underground Coal Gasification) process requires integration of a wide range of technical disciplines, which explains its slow commercial acceptance. The ideal temperatures of above ground coal gasification are about 1000 °C. It isn’t possible to achieve these temperatures in the UCG. While it is impossible to monitor some variables of the process (e.g., temperatures in a georeactor), there are special systems that are developed for an indirect measurement of these variables. The changing conditions of the process may cause problems. For this reason the control system should be robust and able to continuously adapt to changes in the process
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