Laboratory investigation on underground coal gasification technique with real-time analysis

Abstract

Energy demand will continue rising in India due to increasing pressure of population; continuing urbanization; significant expansion of better living standards of the middle class peoples; electrification in more and more villages; and modernization of agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. In India, coal is the most abundant and major fossil fuel which is going to play big role in meeting its energy demand. A major part of this requirement can be met by proper utilization of deep-seated coal. Underground coal gasification (UCG) process is a clean coal technology for utilization of unminable coal. In this article, a novel simple laboratory model of UCG is developed with advanced real-time control and monitoring. The experimental study is carried out on a high-ash single coal block for 48 h period. In this experiment, synthesis gases are produced by the gasification of coal block by using oxygen and steam as the main oxidising agents. Observation and analysis are made on the characteristic of produced gases, coal-tar, cavity-growth under variable process conditions. This laboratory-based experimental study will play a vital role for prediction on practically-difficult UCG process for successful operation in actual field by reducing its complexity.