Coal Conversion Processes, Gasification

Coal gasification is a well-proven technology that provides an excellent way to utilize vast resources of coal efficiently and cleanly. The near-term application of coal gasification is in conjunction with combined cycle systems to generate electricity. Modern coal gasification processes produce high pressure syngas, which can be fed as fuel to a gas turbine. The high efficiency derived from combining gas turbine cycles with steam turbine cycles, along with significant environmental benefits, makes coal gasification combined cycle (CGCC) power plants more attractive than conventional technologies that generate power by coal combustion. Gasification technologies are described for various types of feedstocks. The chemistry of coal gasification is presented and process results are shown for several coals with a focus on gasifier performance and process efficiency. Other potential applications of coal involve the use of syngas chemistry to produce chemicals.