Underground Coal Gasification - Experiment Report (Set-up, Igniting, Recording)

 General information of Coal Gasification

 Underground coal gasification is a concept of extracting  underground coal by burning it underground extracting the bi-products for usage. there are different techniques which are published by various researchers around the globe that you can search for. 

Some researchers continue to explore how to extract useful gases by burning coal underground. Below is an experimental setup in a laboratory observed by Kyushu University Students. 

Activities - Daily Account of experiment 

In this project of the Underground coal gasification simulation, it was done in a laboratory setting to analyze the potential of underground coal gasification for potential utilization of underground coal resources.  

Figure 1 : Schematic diagram of the coal gasification model at laboratory setting

The purpose of this project was to simulate the coal ignition to extract the Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide gas and other important gases. Other uses of in-situ coal by coal gasification include the production of electricity, coal tar among others but in this case the coal tar is of insignificant and considered as waste with water.

The account of the activities conducted during the experiment are outlined below.

  Day 1

Set  up the experiment especially connecting the sensor cables from the coal seam model to the sensor measuring equipment. Two (2) drill holes were created and installed cracking sensors and cemented. crack sensor cables were channeled to detect crack location while burning. The closest crack returns the highest reading.

All the sensor cables were connected to the sensor reading equipment and calibrated based on calibration standards and trial/tests done to ensure all good to go. The sensors were to measure temperature, cracking of coal, flow rate of gas emitting under atmospheric pressure.

Oxygen was prepared to connect into the model so that it will aid burning coal under enclosed setting and help in getting out the resultant gas/products from the coal burning face.  LP gas was also used with a long copper tube and a ignition coil attached at the end of it for igniting the coal.  All other necessary pipes were connected and ready for experiment.

All the set up was done and ready for ignition  on the next day.

Figure 2 : Equipment set up completed and ready for measurement during coal burning

 Day 2

Ignition of coal started in the morning by burning the ignition coil attached to the copper tube with electricity which is connected to the LP gas. When the ignition coil was red hot, LP gas was opened, and it flowed through the copper tube and flame  burst. This set up was inserted into the coal seam and the coal seam was ignited in the model.

 As the coal seam was burning in the model and producing smoke, the ignition coil setup removed, and oxygen was supplied into the enclosed area to aid burning and closed the inlet/outlet pipe or the regulator pipe. Oxygen also help in getting the resultant gas and moisture out from the burning face.

Electric buster fan was used to suck smoke away from the working area. At the regulator pipe, the emitted gas during the burning of the coal is collected via metal pipe and monitored and recorded at the laptop inside the laboratory. Excessive gas emitted at two exit pipes above the building was then lighted up by gas burner to continue burning to prevent smoke.

 After some time, water is connected into the burning area via pipe to prevent excessive burning and protect non coal components of the model.

The gas produced from burning coal is a mixture of gas and moisture so there was a mixing chamber or collecting tank which was wrapped  with clear hose and frozen water pumped through and the moisture content got condense which also contain coal tar and is collected at the bottom/tip of the storage tank and further stored away in storage containers for disposal.

 Readings of the temperature, flowrate, cracking are recorded hourly on prepared data sheet. Readings were also recorded continuously on the equipment and data is stored in memory disks. The recording of data is done hourly and 24 hours for 4 days.

Figure 3 : Water and coal tar mixture collected at the condenser tank

  Day 3

The hourly recording of temperature, cracking and flowrate under atmospheric condition continued.

The laboratory demonstrated and explained in simple terms the experiments to Junior High School Students. There were three set up on site at the research facility for students to observe:

1.      (a)The explanation of coal and demonstration of how coal and rock in terms of their physical properties. 

 (b) The coal and gravels were burned, and the results showed that gravels cannot burn but coal can burn when ignited.

(c) Another set up was that, coal was placed in a glass tube closed at the opening and a small L tube is connected. Using gas burner, the glass tube containing coal was burned and gas was produced and emitted through the L tube and finally lighted by gas lighter and it was burning and students were amazed with this experiment.

Figure 4 : Burning coal in the glass tube as a demonstration of coal gasification

2.  Explanation and demonstration of electricity generation by burning coal. Glass beaker was filled with water and firmly closed, and a tube connected via lid. This tube is then connected to a mini turbine with motor attached at the end and wiring was done to produce electricity and a light was produced.  By using gas burner, the beaker with water was heated and high pressure steam produced which is directed via the tube and into the turbine which turns the turbine and as the turbine rotates, it powers the motor which converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Figure 5 : Demonstration of steam turning the turbine to power the motor and a red light given out.

 3.     The third set up was the explanation of the setting up of the underground coal gasification process and procedures and the explanation of the model being set up.

 

Figure 6 : Schematic Diagram used to explain the coal gasification set up at laboratory.

Day 4

The hourly recording of temperature, cracking and flowrate under atmospheric condition continued and Hosted the another group of Junior High School Students and conducted the same experiments and explanation on the previous day .

Figure 7 : Junior High School Student and technical team on site after completion of explanations.

 

Day 5

Continued with hourly recording of temperature, cracking and flowrate under atmospheric condition and removing wastewater from tank and poured into storage containers for treatment before disposal.

 Day 6

 Recording of readings or measurements stopped at 03:00 on the 6th Day. All the connections dismantled, and experiment was completed and ready for clean up the area. Most of the equipment were disconnected and removed.  

Another experiment at a small scale was prepared using small drums. 9 small drums were prepared by drilling the bottom at center and pipe inserted. Then poured mixed cement and let it dry.  Then coal seams measured their weights and placed in the drums and packed cement again at top. Then it was left to dry and packed in the laboratory for experiment in September 2020. Sensors will be installed in those drums and follow the same procedure and recording.  

Coal Samples

Drums ready for packing coal

Figure 8 & 9: Coal measured and ready for packing in drum as prepared on the next photo

Coal packed in drums

Coal packed and sealed with concrete

Figure 10 & 11 : Coal  packed in drums and finally covered with cement and ready for next experiment in a smaller scale.

 Day 6

 Finally, all sensor cables were removed and from the drill holes where the crack sensors were installed, the team poured white cement mixed with water until it filled up to brim. This was to determine extent or quantity of coal burnt during the experiment. Quantity of cement and water ratio mixed were recorded in the data sheet which also include the quantity of cement wasted.

Discussion and Conclusion

The data collected from this underground coal gasification would be analyzed with suitable software and results made known or published to stakeholders involved and the public once presented on publications.

Underground Coal gasification seems to be the effective way of extracting in-situ coal by way of burning and obtain the various desired products. Of course, there are economic and environmental challenges and consequences involved but needs careful consideration and management from feasibility to development to production to closure and post closure in such a project.

Disclaimer:

Some of the information provided here may not reflect the real intention of the experiment and detail information my not be provided. This article just a reported account of students who attend the experiment on internship purposes to broaden the knowledge and understand the concept of Under Ground coal gasification.