Underground gasification offers clean safe route to coal energy

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Energy Int.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7218964

Jenkins, N

Underground gasification offers the possibility of a return to coal in a form more acceptable to consumers. Estimates of an 84 percent extraction efficiency make in situ processing attractive if technology can be developed for a faster rate of production and enrichment to offset the low calorific value. The advantages of in situ gasification include safety, cleanliness, lower cost of pipeline transmission, and the possibility of exploiting thin and otherwise inaccessible seams. Two new process proposals for controlling oxygen and combustion are based on the use of hydrogen instead of oxygen as a heat supplier and on the explosive fracturing of the seam before burning. Estimates of costs show these new processes are not competitive, but are in line with costs of imported natural gas. The reluctance of miners to work underground and the increasing costs of mine safety and improvement will increase the attractiveness of underground gasification. New developments will seek to combine coal fields with a 20-year life expectancy and 100-megawatt cogeneration power plants in proximity to an urban center. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7218964
• Journal Information: Energy Int.; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Int.; (United States) Vol. 14:4; ISSN ENEIB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
CO-GENERATION
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL MINING
COST
DEUS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXTRACTION
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
GASIFICATION
IN-SITU GASIFICATION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MARKET
MINING
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAFETY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOCIAL IMPACT
STEAM GENERATION
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WORKING CONDITIONS