Numerical simulation of UCG process with the aim of increasing calorific value of syngas

• Main Authors: Amin Jowkar, Farhang Sereshki, Mehdi Najafi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2019-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Coal Science & Technology
• Subjects: Underground coal gasification (UCG); CFD simulation; Operational parameters; Calorific value of syngas
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-019-00288-x

Abstract The determination of operational parameters in the underground coal gasification (UCG) process should be considered in two aspects: first, the total coal in each UCG panel must be gasified and second, the calorific value of the produced gas should be acceptable. The main aim of this study is to present a model that meets these aspects and increasing the calorific value of syngas during this process. In order to achieve those aims, eight different increasing scenarios were devised for total gasification of coal per panel. These scenarios included: increasing oxygen injection rate (scenario 1), the amount of steam injection (scenario 2), operation time (scenario 3), cavity pressure (scenario 4), increase operation time and cavity pressure simultaneously (scenario 5), increase steam injection speed and oxygen injection rate simultaneously (scenario 6), increase in cavity pressure, operating time, steam injection rate and oxygen injection rate simultaneously (scenario 7) and also simultaneous increase in the operating time and steam injection rate (scenario 8). The results showed that for producing syngas with a higher calorific value, the following parameters had the most positive effects respectively: operation time, cavity pressure, steam injection rate and oxygen injection rate. Finally, the model validation was performed for the Centralia LBK-1 UCG pilot and the results showed that this model is very close to reality.