Abstract
In this study, a packed bed reactor was developed to investigate the gasification process of coal particles. The effects of coal particle size and heater temperature of reactor were examined to identify the thermochemical processes through the packed bed. Three different coal samples with varying size, named as A, B, and C, are used, and the experimental results show that the packed bed with smaller coal size has higher temperature, reaching 624 °C, 582 °C, and 569 °C for coal A, B, and C, respectively. In the case of CO formation, the smaller particle size has greater products in the unit of mole fraction over the area of generation. However, the variation in the porosity of the packed bed due to different coal particle sizes affects the reactions through the oxygen access. Consequently, the CO formation is least from the coal packed bed formed by the smallest particle size A. A second test with the temperature variations shows that the higher heater temperature promotes the chemical reactions, resulting in the increased gas products. The findings indicate the important role of coal seam porosity in underground coal gasification application, as well as temperature to promote the syngas productions.
Highlights
The Survey of Energy Resources was published in 2016, which estimated that the world coal reserves are approximately 890 billion tonnes (World Energy Council 2013), and there are another greater resources, which are not mineable in deep underground
The effects of coal particle size and heater temperature of reactor were examined to identify the thermochemical processes through the packed bed
The findings indicate the important role of coal seam porosity in underground coal gasification application, as well as temperature to promote the syngas productions
Summary
The Survey of Energy Resources was published in 2016, which estimated that the world coal reserves are approximately 890 billion tonnes (World Energy Council 2013),. The packed bed model assumes that coal gasification occurs in highly permeable porous media with a stationary coal bed which is consumed over time (Khadse et al 2006) These models have limitations in providing the radiation mechanisms as it occurs in the gasification reactions (Khan et al 2015). At a very high heating rate, there is a possibility of the coincidence of a drying front with a combustion front (Tsang 1980) This model is yet to be validated using UCG trial data and has limitation in presenting the mass conservation procedures to describe the cavity formation (Khan et al 2015). Each model has a contribution on the UCG modelling development They still have a limitation in providing a set of particular reaction kinetics for gasification processes (Khan et al 2015). Comparison of findings between the results of model simulation and experimental development will be established to provide with the necessary information for the UCG development
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