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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Underground coal gasification. [Book based mostly on federally funded studies]

Book ·
OSTI ID:7096842
Recent work on underground gasification of coal in the USA is reviewed in some detail, along with chapters on theory and the design and planning of underground gasification operations (listing especially methods which have been developed mostly in the USSR, but some of which are due to US Bureau of Mines or ERDA contractor personnel). Various proposed new or proprietary methods are reviewed. Problems of site selection, site preparation, ignition and operational control, measurement and instrumentation systems, potential environmental effects and some problems which have occurred (combustion control, water control, leaks, roof collapse, control of calorific value of gas, operational engineering, etc) are reviewed. The technical feasibility of underground gasification has been demonstrated. An optimistic estimate of the economics is presented. One constraint is that the gas produced is usually of rather low calorific value so it must be used in a nearby power plant or petrochemical plant. (LTN)
OSTI ID:
7096842
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English