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Some Influences of Underground Coal Gasification on the Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Karol Kostúr

    (Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty of BERG, Technical University of Kosice, 04001 Kosice, Slovakia)

  • Marek Laciak

    (Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty of BERG, Technical University of Kosice, 04001 Kosice, Slovakia)

  • Milan Durdan

    (Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty of BERG, Technical University of Kosice, 04001 Kosice, Slovakia)

Abstract

Increasing energy costs and energy demand have renewed global interest in clean coal technologies. Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is an industrial process that converts coal into product gas. UCG is a promising technology with a lot of health, safety and environmental advantages over conventional mining techniques. UCG carries risks to human health, agriculture and the environment. This article briefly analyzes the advantages and negative environmental impacts of UCG. It describes experimental objects, mathematical models as tools for simulation cases and it used coal from UCG experiments in Cigel, Barbara and Wieczorek mines to analyze the environmental impacts of UCG. The gasification converts the carbon in the coal to syngas and heat. We carried out a numerical simulation of the two-dimensional unstable heat conduction in the coal and overburden, with the aim of judging the influence of this heat source on the surroundings, including the surface. The results show that the temperature in the surrounding rock first increases and then decreases with time, the peak of the temperature curve decreases gradually, and its position moves inside the surrounding rock from the ignition point. A small amount of potentially dangerous syngas leaks from the UCG cavity and channels into vulnerable areas depending on working pressures. The danger of explosion and poisoning in vulnerable zones was evaluated by the simulation model. The results show that the danger is real but by monitoring and controlling the air in the vulnerable area it is possible to reduce this risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Karol Kostúr & Marek Laciak & Milan Durdan, 2018. "Some Influences of Underground Coal Gasification on the Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-31, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1512-:d:145570
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    1. 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.
    2. Ján Kačur & Marek Laciak & Milan Durdán & Patrik Flegner, 2023. "Investigation of Underground Coal Gasification in Laboratory Conditions: A Review of Recent Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-55, August.
    3. Oleg Bazaluk & Vasyl Lozynskyi & Volodymyr Falshtynskyi & Pavlo Saik & Roman Dychkovskyi & Edgar Cabana, 2021. "Experimental Studies of the Effect of Design and Technological Solutions on the Intensification of an Underground Coal Gasification Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    4. 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.
    5. Marian Wiatowski & Krzysztof Kapusta & Aleksandra Strugała-Wilczek & Krzysztof Stańczyk & Alberto Castro-Muñiz & Fabián Suárez-García & Juan Ignacio Paredes, 2023. "Large-Scale Experimental Simulations of In Situ Coal Gasification in Terms of Process Efficiency and Physicochemical Properties of Process By-Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-22, May.
    6. 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.

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