Bìznes Inform (Feb 2024)
A Feasibility Study of Different Methods of Gasification of Brown Coal for the Production of Synthetic Motor Fuel
Abstract
The aim of the article is to assess the feasibility of organizing the production of synthesis gas from brown coal, the reserves of which in Ukraine are sufficient. As a raw material base, the article considers the coal of the Novo-Dmytrivske deposit, which is located on the territory of the Kharkiv region. The balance reserves of brown coal in categories A + B amount to 284.4 million tons and in category C1 – to 95.6 million tons, that is, a total of 380 million tons. The average technical analysis data for the deposit are as follows: moisture per working weight is 51.2%; ash content per dry weight is 19.4%; the total sulfur content is 2.45%. The elemental composition of the coal of this deposit is characterized by the following data: carbon – 68.0%, hydrogen – 6.0%, oxygen – 23.0%, sulfur, nitrogen and other elements – 3.0%. To achieve the goal, the properties of coal of this deposit have been examined and the following technologies of coal gasification have been analyzed: Lurgi process (counter-current steam-oxygen gasification of coarse coal (or briquettes) in a stationary bed); Prenflo process (direct-flow steam-oxygen gasification in a pulverized coal stream); Texaco process (direct-flow oxygen gasification in a coal-water pulp stream). For each of these processes, material balances have been developed; the quality of gas synthesis, the possibility of organizing the production of the necessary energy resources, the level of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, and the main technical and economic indicators have been evaluated. The calculations were made for an enterprise with a coal capacity of 9 million tons of actual weight per year. Based on the calculations made, the Lurgi process is recommended for industrial implementation. The advantages of this process are: the lowest temperature and pressure of the gasification process; a wider range of products obtained during gasification; almost optimal syngas composition in terms of H2 : CO ratio; the lowest emissions of carbon dioxide generated during coal gasification and preparation of synthesis gas for further use; the lowest production cost of prepared synthesis gas; the lowest specific capital investments (per 1 thousand m3 of prepared synthesis gas). The inexpediency of using the Texaco process for the gasification of brown coal is substantiated, as well as the directions for improving the Prenflo process for its further use in the gasification of brown coal of the Novo-Dmytrivske deposit are determined.
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