ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

A parametric study on coal gasification for the production of syngas

Afsin Gungor, Murat Ozbayoglu, Cosku Kasnakoglu, Atilla Biyikoglu, and Bekir Zuhtu Uysal

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Akdeniz University, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, Kampus, 07058 Antalya, Turkey

E-mail: afsingungor@hotmail.com

Abstract: In this parametric study, the effects of coal and oxidiser type, air-to-fuel ratio, steam-to-fuel ratio, reactor temperature, and pressure on H₂ and CO amounts at the gasifier output, H₂/CO, and higher heating value of the syngas produced have been calculated using a coal gasification model. Model simulations have been performed to identify the optimum values which are assumed to be 100 % for both cold gas efficiency and carbon conversion efficiency in the gasification process. From this study, it may be observed that the moisture content of the coal type is of crucial importance for the air gasification process; the O₂ content of similar coals (taking into consideration the moisture and H₂ content) is of significant importance for the air gasification process. When compared with air gasification, air-steam gasification becomes a more effective coal gasification method. The optimum working condition for air-steam gasification is to carry out the process at one atmosphere. High gasifier temperatures are not needed for the air-steam gasification of coal.

Keywords: coal gasification – syngas production – gasification simulation – chemical process optimization

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-012-0164-0

Chemical Papers 66 (7) 677–683 (2012)