Effect of Lignite Properties on Its Suitability for the Implementation of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) in Selected Deposits

Two experimental simulations of underground coal gasification (UCG) processes, using large bulk samples of lignites, were conducted in a surface laboratory setup. Two different lignite samples were used for the oxygen-blown experiments, i.e., “Velenje” meta-lignite (Slovenia) and “Oltenia” ortho-lignite (Romania). The average moisture content of the samples was 31.6wt.% and 45.6wt.% for the Velenje and Oltenia samples, respectively. The main aim of the study was to assess the suitability of the tested lignites for the underground coal gasification process. The gas composition and its production rates, as well as the temperatures in the artificial seams, were continuously monitored during the experiments. The average calorific value of gas produced during the Velenje lignite experiment (6.4 MJ/Nm3) was much higher compared to the result obtained for the experiment with Oltenia lignite (4.8 MJ/Nm3). The Velenje lignite test was also characterized by significantly higher energy efficiency, i.e., 44.6%, compared to the gasification of Oltenia lignite (33.4%). The gasification experiments carried out showed that the physicochemical properties of the lignite used considerably affect the in situ gasification process. Research also indicates that UCG can be considered as a viable option for the extraction of lignite deposits; however, lignites with a lower moisture content and higher energy density are preferred, due to their much higher process efficiency.