Modelling Underground Coal Gasification—A Review

Md M. Khan; Joseph P. Mmbaga; Ahad S. Shirazi; Japan Trivedi; Qingzia Liu; Rajender Gupta

doi:10.3390/en81112331

Energies (Nov 2015)

Modelling Underground Coal Gasification—A Review

Md M. Khan,
Joseph P. Mmbaga,
Ahad S. Shirazi,
Japan Trivedi,
Qingzia Liu,
Rajender Gupta

Affiliations

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

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en81112331
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 11
pp. 12603 – 12668

Abstract

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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.

Published in Energies

ISSN: 1996-1073 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

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