Gasification of various coals in molten salts
The utilization of the US coal reserves in a manner which does not add to the existing pollution problem is of utmost importance in the interest of conservation of more valuable natural resources in the national economy. Gasification of coal and generation of clean fuel gas offers one of the most promising approaches to the utilization of coal. It has been assigned a high priority in the US Energy Development Program. Several of the coal gasification processes presently under development are now at the initial pilot plant operation stage. One of these processes is the Rockwell International Molten Salt Coal Gasification Process (Rockgas Process). In this process, the coal is gasified at a temperature of about 1800/sup 0/F and at pressures up to 30 atm by reaction with air in a highly turbulent mixture of molten sodium carbonate containing sodium sulfide, ash, and unreacted carbonaceous material. The sulfur and ash of the coal are retained in the melt, a small stream of which is continuously circulated through a process system for regeneration of the sodium carbonate, removal of the ash, and recovery of elemental sulfur. A molten salt coal gasification process development unit capable of converting 1 ton of coal per hour into low-Btu fuel gas at pressures up to 20 atm is currently undergoing testing under contract to the Department of Energy. Preliminary to the PDU, a considerable amount of laboratory testing took place. These tests were conducted in a bench-scale, 6-in.-dia gasifier in which coals of different rank were continuously gasified in the melt. The tests resulted in a better understanding of the gasification process. The purpose of this paper is to describe these laboratory tests and to discuss some of the chemistry taking place in the gasifier. Emphasis is placed on the effect of coal rank on the chemistry.
- Research Organization:
- Rockwell International, CAnoga Park, Ca
- OSTI ID:
- 7071492
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-800814-P3
- Journal Information:
- Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem., Prepr.; (United States) Vol. 25:4; ISSN ACFPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANTHRACITE
BITUMINOUS COAL
BLACK COAL
BROWN COAL
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATES
CHEMISTRY
COAL
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL RANK
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GASIFICATION
LIGNITE
MATERIALS
MOLTEN SALT COAL GASIFICATION PROCESS
MOLTEN SALTS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT UNITS
SALTS
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES