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How can coal be converted into gaseous fuels?
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coal utilization
Cross-regenerative coke oven. (A) Cross section, showing the alternating arrangement of flue walls and ovens; (B) longitudinal section, showing (left) a series of combustion flues in a single flue wall and (right) part of a long, slotlike oven.
Coal can be converted into gaseous fuels through a process known as coal gasification. Because coal is hydrogen-deficient, these processes generally require the addition of hydrogen, often provided by steam.1
Common methods include:
- Thermal Gasification: Coal is heated at high temperatures in the presence of oxygen, steam, or carbon dioxide to produce a mixture of gases, including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane.213
- In Situ Gasification: This involves the controlled, incomplete burning of underground coal beds while injecting air and steam. The resulting gases are then extracted for use in heating or electricity generation.1
- Hydrogenation: Coal is exposed to hydrogen at high temperatures, often in the presence of a catalyst, to break down its chemical structure and produce gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons.213
- Carbonization: An older method involving the destructive distillation of coal by heating it in the absence of air, which leaves behind coke as a byproduct.2
The resulting product, often called syngas, can be used for heating, electricity production, or as a chemical feedstock.13