The U-gas® process

Abstract

The U-GAS® process has been developed by the Institute of Gas Technology to produce a low-to medium-Btu (150 to 300 Btu/SCF) fuel gas from coal in an environmentally acceptable manner. the process accomplishes decaking, devolatilization, and gasification of coal in addition to separation of ash in a single-stage fluidized-bed reactor. A 24 ton per day pilot plant has been successfully operated on a variety of feedstocks including a high-sulphur, caking Illinois basin bituminous coal. the total operating time for the pilot plant has been over 5600 h, during which more than 100 test runs have been conducted. A raw product gas having a heating value of 280 Btu/SCF and ash agglomerates containing 95 per cent ash have been repeatedly produced in the pilot plant. This corresponds to an overall gasifier coal utilization efficiency of up to 94 per cent. Recent operation of the pilot plant has firmly established process feasibility, safe and reliable operability, and provided a strong data base for the preliminary design of a demonstration plant. the U-GAS® process has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy and Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division (City of Memphis) for the preliminary design of a demonstration plant. the plant, proposed for construction in Memphis, will produce 50 billion Btu of an industrial fuel gas daily from 2800 tons of coal. Currently, based on successful pilot plant tests, the demonstration plant preliminary design is underway and is to be completed in November 1979.