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Modelling Underground Coal Gasification—A Review

Author

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  • Md M. Khan

    (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, 9211–116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada)

  • Joseph P. Mmbaga

    (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, 9211–116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada)

  • Ahad S. Shirazi

    (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, 9211–116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada)

  • Japan Trivedi

    (School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 1H9, AB, Canada)

  • Qingzia Liu

    (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, 9211–116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada)

  • Rajender Gupta

    (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, 9211–116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada)

Abstract

The technical feasibility of underground coal gasification (UCG) has been established through many field trials and laboratory-scale experiments over the past decades. However, the UCG is site specific and the commercialization of UCG is being hindered due to the lack of complete information for a specific site of operation. Since conducting UCG trials and data extraction are costly and difficult, modeling has been an important part of UCG study to predict the effect of various physical and operating parameters on the performance of the process. Over the years, various models have been developed in order to improve the understanding of the UCG process. This article reviews the approaches, key concepts, assumptions, and limitations of various forward gasification UCG models for cavity growth and product gas recovery. However, emphasis is given to the most important models, such as packed bed models, the channel model, and the coal slab model. In addition, because of the integral part of the main models, various sub-models such as drying and pyrolysis are also included in this review. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the various simulation methodologies and sub-models in order to enhance the understanding of the critical aspects of the UCG process.

Suggested Citation

  • Md M. Khan & Joseph P. Mmbaga & Ahad S. Shirazi & Japan Trivedi & Qingzia Liu & Rajender Gupta, 2015. "Modelling Underground Coal Gasification—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-66, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:8:y:2015:i:11:p:12331-12668:d:58413
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hao Chen & Yong Qin & Yanpeng Chen & Zhen Dong & Junjie Xue & Shanshan Chen & Mengyuan Zhang & Yufeng Zhao, 2023. "Quantitative Evaluation of Underground Coal Gasification Based on a CO 2 Gasification Agent," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-10, October.
    2. Zenon Pilecki & Robert Hildebrandt & Krzysztof Krawiec & Elżbieta Pilecka & Zbigniew Lubosik & Tomasz Łątka, 2023. "Assessment of Combustion Cavern Geometry in Underground Coal Gasification Process with the Use of Borehole Ground-Penetrating Radar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Fa-qiang Su & Akihiro Hamanaka & Ken-ichi Itakura & Gota Deguchi & Wenyan Zhang & Hua Nan, 2018. "Evaluation of a Compact Coaxial Underground Coal Gasification System Inside an Artificial Coal Seam," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-11, April.
    4. Marek Laciak & Milan Durdán & Ján Kačur & Patrik Flegner, 2023. "The Underground Coal Gasification Process in Laboratory Conditions: An Experimental Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Ján Kačur & Marek Laciak & Milan Durdán & Patrik Flegner & Rebecca Frančáková, 2023. "A Review of Research on Advanced Control Methods for Underground Coal Gasification Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-36, April.
    6. Su, Fa-qiang & Hamanaka, Akihiro & Itakura, Ken-ichi & Zhang, Wenyan & Deguchi, Gota & Sato, Kohki & Takahashi, Kazuhiro & Kodama, Jun-ichi, 2018. "Monitoring and evaluation of simulated underground coal gasification in an ex-situ experimental artificial coal seam system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 82-92.
    7. Jacek Nowak & Magdalena Kokowska-Pawłowska & Joanna Komorek & Marian Wiatowski & Krzysztof Kapusta & Zdzisław Adamczyk, 2022. "Optical Properties of Coal after Ex-Situ Experimental Simulation of Underground Gasification at Pressures of 10 and 40 bar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, November.
    8. Milan Durdán & Marta Benková & Marek Laciak & Ján Kačur & Patrik Flegner, 2021. "Regression Models Utilization to the Underground Temperature Determination at Coal Energy Conversion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-28, September.
    9. Christopher Otto & Thomas Kempka, 2017. "Prediction of Steam Jacket Dynamics and Water Balances in Underground Coal Gasification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
    10. Tomasz Janoszek & Wojciech Masny, 2021. "CFD Simulations of Allothermal Steam Gasification Process for Hydrogen Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-28, March.
    11. Su, Fa-qiang & He, Xiao-long & Dai, Meng-jia & Yang, Jun-nan & Hamanaka, Akihiro & Yu, Yi-he & Li, Wen & Li, Jiao-yuan, 2023. "Estimation of the cavity volume in the gasification zone for underground coal gasification under different oxygen flow conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    12. Christopher Otto & Thomas Kempka, 2020. "Synthesis Gas Composition Prediction for Underground Coal Gasification Using a Thermochemical Equilibrium Modeling Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, March.
    13. Zhen Dong & Haiyang Yi & Yufeng Zhao & Xinggang Wang & Tingxiang Chu & Junjie Xue & Hanqi Wu & Shanshan Chen & Mengyuan Zhang & Hao Chen, 2022. "Investigation of the Evolution of Stratum Fracture during the Cavity Expansion of Underground Coal Gasification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-15, October.
    14. Yuteng Xiao & Jihang Yin & Yifan Hu & Junzhe Wang & Hongsheng Yin & Honggang Qi, 2019. "Monitoring and Control in Underground Coal Gasification: Current Research Status and Future Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, January.
    15. Zhizhen Zhang & Xiao Yang & Xiaoji Shang & Huai Yang, 2022. "A Thermal-Hydrological-Mechanical-Chemical Coupled Mathematical Model for Underground Coal Gasification with Random Fractures," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(16), pages 1-21, August.
    16. Krzysztof Skrzypkowski & Krzysztof Zagórski & Anna Zagórska, 2021. "Determination of the Extent of the Rock Destruction Zones around a Gasification Channel on the Basis of Strength Tests of Sandstone and Claystone Samples Heated at High Temperatures up to 1200 °C and ," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-27, October.
    17. Xiao, Yi & Zhang, Haoyu & Luo, Guangqian & Fang, Can & Zhao, Tianyu & Chen, Lingxuan & Zou, Renjie & Zhang, Youjun & Chen, Juan & Li, Xian & Yao, Hong, 2024. "Simulation of underground coal gasification ignition in deep coal seam based on transitional diffusion mechanism: Influence of inlet temperature and O2," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    18. Mohammadreza Shahbazi & Mehdi Najafi & Mohammad Fatehi Marji, 2019. "On the mitigating environmental aspects of a vertical well in underground coal gasification method," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 373-398, March.
    19. Jowkar, Amin & Sereshki, Farhang & Najafi, Mehdi, 2018. "A new model for evaluation of cavity shape and volume during Underground Coal Gasification process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 756-765.
    20. Xi Lin & Qingya Liu & Zhenyu Liu, 2018. "Estimation of Effective Diffusion Coefficient of O 2 in Ash Layer in Underground Coal Gasification by Thermogravimetric Apparatus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-14, February.
    21. Marco Torresi & Francesco Fornarelli & Bernardo Fortunato & Sergio Mario Camporeale & Alessandro Saponaro, 2017. "Assessment against Experiments of Devolatilization and Char Burnout Models for the Simulation of an Aerodynamically Staged Swirled Low-NO x Pulverized Coal Burner," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-24, January.
    22. Stefan Zelenak & Erika Skvarekova & Andrea Senova & Gabriel Wittenberger, 2021. "The Usage of UCG Technology as Alternative to Reach Low-Carbon Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.

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