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.

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Partial Assistance to Masters and PhD Candidates in filling Application Forms for Japanese Scholarships or Self Sponsor

This is a general announcement to keen researchers and potential researchers of the Earth Resources Engineering in Papua New Guinea and any other Pacific Island Nations.

If you are one of the interested or  potential research candidate (Master ,PhD, Post PhD etc) who are planning to apply for further studies through Japanese Government Scholarships or self sponsor or by any form of arrangements and need assistance in securing Supervisors/Professors from various Japanese Universities which is one of the requirements for the Scholarship Applications Forms, then we are more than willing to assist you in this regard. 

Our team has been approached by several Professors of the Department of Earth Resources Engineering in Kyushu University Under the Faculty of Engineering to connect any interested research candidate (Master ,PhD, Post PhD etc) who may be interested to study in Japan through either scholarships or by various  sponsorship arrangements.

If you are interested or need guidance in this regard then feel free to contact us through the contact form on our website.

The requirements and steps are:

1. Topic of Research

2. Your Scope of Study or Study Plan is basically the brief of what you intend to do under your topic selected. i.e. Introduction, Objective, Methodology etc.. Have a clear idea on the topic.

3. State Clearly which Laboratory you would like to apply to do your research. The Laboratory of your choice can either be related to your topic.

4. Provide you contact information especially e-mail. 

5. We will introduce your topic and your contact to the Professors concern.

6. The Professors will then contact you for further discussions regarding your topic and research plan and further provide direction for actions at your end including the entry requirements and applications.

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To avoid doubt, this is not a scholarship information and we do not provide scholarship Application Forms either. It is just an announcement offering assistance to those who are in need. Helping others progress in Earth Resources Engineering.

We help to connect interested researchers to Researchers.

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Construction and management of Tailing dams in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is faced with many challenges such as high altitude with high rainfall (2000-5000 mm/yr), high seismicity and structurally controlled zones which pose threat to the slope stability of tailings dams. Therefore, slope stability analysis is necessary to give confidence to some extent to the stakeholders. The location for this study is at Hamata Tailings (dam) Storage Facility (TSF) at Hidden Valley Mine in PNG which has two rock/earth filled embankments, the main dam and the saddle dam with downstream construction method. Currently the TSF owner is planning to raise the dam height from RL 2000 to RL 2015 with extra 15 Mt storage capacity as the pond water approaching its designed capacity at RL 2000. The objective of this study is to analyse the slope stability of Hamata TSF using phase 2 based on the design basics for the crest expansion from RL 2000 to RL 2015 and beyond and recommend an ideal slope stability under various conditions in terms of shear strength reduction factor ((SSRF). The results obtained in this study is useful for PNG Mining Regulators in comparing company results in the appraisals for tailings dam development proposals and, it will be useful to future researchers in PNG and other similar tropical regions.

 Keywords: Tailings dam, slope stability analysis, Hamata TSF crest expansion, embankment, Shear Strength Reduction Factor, RL-Reduced Level(m).

 

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Note: Full paper for this abstract  is ready and can be accessed upon request via contact form in this website.

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Other waster are considered recyclable in the likes of metals and hydrocarbon products. For example, can drinks are recyclable as well and pet bottles are recyclable. 

So in managing waste, you have to consider the separation of these waste materials which you don't need but  others they need for recycling or  to be used for other purposes.

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