Sequentially coupled flow-geomechanical modeling of underground coal gasification for a three-dimensional problem

Underground coal gasification (UCG) has been identified as an environmentally friendly technique for gasification of deep un-mineable coal seams in situ. This technology has the potential to be a clean and promising energy provider from coal seams with minimal greenhouse gas emission. The UCG eliminates the presence of coal miners underground hence, it is believed to be a much safer technique compared to the deep coal mining method. The UCG includes drilling injection and production wells into the coal seam, igniting coal, and injecting oxygen-based mix to facilitate coal gasification. Produced syngas is extracted from the production well. Evolution of a cavity created from the gasification process along with high temperature as well as change in pore fluid pressure causes mechanical changes to the coal and surrounding formations. Therefore, simulation of the gasification process alone is not sufficient to represent this complex thermal-hydro-chemical–mechanical process. Instead, a coupled flow and geomechanical modeling can help better represent the process by allowing simultaneous observation of the syngas production, advancement of the gasification chamber, and the cavity growth. Adaptation of such a coupled simulation would aid in optimization of the UCG process while helping controlling and mitigating the environmental risks caused by geomechanical failure and syngas loss to the groundwater. This paper presents results of a sequentially coupled flow-geomechanical simulation of a three-dimensional (3D) UCG example using the numerical methodology devised in this study. The 3D model includes caprock on top, coal seam in the middle, and another layer of rock underneath. Gasification modeling was conducted in the Computer Modelling Group Ltd. (CMG)’s Steam, Thermal, and Advanced processes Reservoir Simulator (STARS). Temperature and fluid pressure of each grid block as well as the cavity geometry, at the timestep level, were passed from the STARS to the geomechanical simulator i.e. the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions (FLAC3D) computer program (from the Itasca Consulting Group Inc.). Key features of the UCG process which were investigated herein include syngas flow rate, cavity growth, temperature and pressure profiles, porosity and permeability changes, and stress and deformation in coal and rock layers. It was observed that the coal matrix deformed towards the cavity, displacement and additional stress happened, and some blocks in the coal and rock layers mechanically failed.     

Cost comparison of syngas production from natural gas conversion and underground coal gasification

Underground coal gasification (UCG) is a promising technology to reduce the cost of producing syngas from coal. Coal is gasified in place, which may make it safer, cleaner and less expensive than using a surface gasifier. UCG provides an efficient approach to mitigate the tension between supplying energy and ensuring sustainable development. However, the coal gasification industry presently is facing competition from the low price of natural gas. The technology needs to be reviewed to assess its competiveness. In this paper, the production cost of syngas from an imaginary commercial-scale UCG plant was broken down and calculated. The produced syngas was assumed to be used as feedstock in liquid fuel production through the Fischer-Tropsch process or methanol synthesis. The syngas had a hydrogen (H₂) to carbon monoxide (CO) ratio of 2. On this basis, its cost was compared with the cost of syngas produced from natural gas. The results indicated that the production cost of syngas from natural gas is mainly determined by the price of natural gas, and varied from $24.46 per thousand cubic meters (TCM) to $90.09/TCM, depending on the assumed price range of natural gas. The cost of producing UCG syngas is affected by the coal seam depth and thickness. Using the Harmon lignite bed in North Dakota, USA, as an example, the cost of producing syngas through UCG was between $37.27/TCM and $39.80/TCM. Therefore, the cost of UCG syngas was within the cost range of syngas produced by natural gas conversion. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to investigate how the cost varies with coal depth and thickness. It was found that by utilizing thicker coal seams, syngas production per cavity can be increased, and the number of new wells drilled per year can be reduced, therefore improving the economics of UCG. Results of this study indicate the competitiveness of UCG regarding to natural gas conversion technologies, and can be used to guide UCG site selection and to optimize the operation strategy.     

Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change via the implementation of underground coal gasification

Coal is the most abundant hydrocarbon energy source in the world. It also produces a very high volume of greenhouse gases using the current production technology. It is more difficult to handle and transport than crude oil and natural gas. We face a challenge: how can we access this abundant resource and at the same time mitigate global environmental challenges, in particular, the production of carbon dioxide (CO₂)? The editors of this special edition journal consider the opportunity to increase the utilization of this globally abundant resource and recover it in an environmentally sustainable manner. Underground coal gasification (UCG) is the recovery of energy from coal by gasifying the coal underground. This  process produces a high calorific synthesis gas, which can be applied for electricity generation and/or the production of fuels and chemicals. The carbon dioxide emissions are relatively pure and the surface facilities are limited in their environmental footprint. Unused carbon is readily separated and can be geo-sequester in the resulting cavity. The cavity is also being considered as a potential option to mitigate against change impacts of other sources of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. These outcomes mean there is an opportunity to provide developing and developed countries a source of low-cost clean energy. Further, the burning of coal in situ means that the traditional dangers of underground mining and extraction are reduced, a higher percentage of the coal is actually recovered and the resulting cavern creates the potential for a long-term storage solution of the gasification wastes. The process is not without challenges. Ground subsidence and groundwater pollution are two potential environmental impacts that need to be averted for this process to be acceptable. It is essential to advance the understanding of this practice and this special edition journal seeks to share the progress that scientists are making in this dynamic field. The technical challenges are being addressed by researchers around the world who work to resolve and understand how burning coal underground impacts the geology, the surface land, and ground water both in the short and the long term. This special issue reviews the process of UCG and considers the opportunities, challenges, risks, competitive analysis and synergies, commercial initiatives and a roadmap to solutions via the modelling and simulation of UCG. Building and then disseminating the fundamental knowledge of UCG will enhance policy development, best practices and processes that reflect the global desires for energy production with reduced environmental impact.     

Advanced geophysical underground coal gasification monitoring

Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) produces less surface impact, atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gas than traditional surface mining and combustion. Therefore, it may be useful in mitigating global change caused by anthropogenic activities. Careful monitoring of the UCG process is essential in minimizing environmental impact. Here we first summarize monitoring methods that have been used in previous UCG field trials. We then discuss in more detail a number of promising advanced geophysical techniques. These methods – seismic, electromagnetic, and remote sensing techniques – may provide improved and cost-effective ways to image both the subsurface cavity growth and surface subsidence effects. Active and passive seismic data have the promise to monitor the burn front, cavity growth, and observe cavity collapse events. Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) produces near real time tomographic images autonomously, monitors the burn front and images the cavity using low-cost sensors, typically running within boreholes. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is a remote sensing technique that has the capability to monitor surface subsidence over the wide area of a commercial-scale UCG operation at a low cost. It may be possible to infer cavity geometry from InSAR (or other surface topography) data using geomechanical modeling. The expected signals from these monitoring methods are described along with interpretive modeling for typical UCG cavities. They are illustrated using field results from UCG trials and other relevant subsurface operations.     

A life cycle comparison of greenhouse emissions for power generation from coal mining and underground coal gasification

Underground coal gasification (UCG) is an advancing technology that is receiving considerable global attention as an economic and environmentally friendly alternative for exploitation of coal deposits. UCG has the potential to decrease greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) during the development and utilization of coal resources. In this paper, the life cycle of UCG from in situ coal gasification to utilization for electricity generation is analyzed and compared with coal extraction through conventional coal mining and utilization in power plants. Four life cycle assessment models have been developed and analyzed to compare (greenhouse gas) GHG emissions of coal mining, coal gasification and power generation through conventional pulverized coal fired power plants (PCC), supercritical coal fired (SCPC) power plants, integrated gasification combined cycle plants for coal (Coal-IGCC), and combined cycle gas turbine plants for UCG (UCG-CCGT). The analysis shows that UCG is comparable to these latest technologies and in fact, the GHG emissions from UCG are about 28 % less than the conventional PCC plant. When combined with the economic superiority, UCG has a clear advantage over competing technologies. The comparison also shows that there is considerable reduction in the GHG emissions with the development of technology and improvements in generation efficiencies.     

褐煤地下气化过程中铅和砷的迁移规律的研究

在煤炭地下气化模型试验的基础上,研究了褐煤原煤及其气化产物中的铅和砷的含量和分布,进行了铅和砷的质量平衡计算,并分析了其析出的反应机理.实验结果表明,铅在原煤中以残渣态23.07%、碳酸盐和铁锰氧化物结合态53.96%、硫化物结合态22.96%存在,而砷则以残渣态47.73%、有机结合态7.95%、硫化物结合态40.90%存在.在气化过程中63.65%的铅和56.23%的砷残存在地下煤灰中,1.15%的Pb和6.62%的As转化到煤气冷凝水中,35.20%的Pb和37.15%的As转化到煤气中.     

On the mitigating environmental aspects of a vertical well in underground coal gasification method

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Underground coal gasification (UCG) is an energy production pathway in underground coal deposits with the potential advantage of decreasing...     

煤燃烧过程中影响NO_x转化的因素探讨

利用管式沉降炉对煤粉燃烧过程中的反应温度、初始氧浓度、反应时间、煤的挥发分及含氧量对燃料氮向NOx 转化的影响进行了试验研究 ,摸清了反应的规律 ,找出了影响转化的显著因素。     

Overview and modeling of mechanical and thermomechanical impact of underground coal gasification exploitation

From an economic point of view Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is a promising technology that can be used to reach coal resources that are difficult or expensive to by conventional mining methods. Furthermore, the process addresses safety concerns, by avoiding the presence of workers underground. An optimal UCG process requires the integration of various scientific fields (chemistry, geochemistry, geomechanics) and the demonstration of limited of environmental impacts. This paper focuses on the mechanical component of the UCG operation and its impact on the surrounding environment in terms of stability and land subsidence. The mechanical components are also considered. Underground mining by coal combustion UCG challenges include the mechanical behavior of the site and of stability of the overburden rock layers. By studying the underground reactor, its inlet and outlet, we confirm the key role played by mechanical damage and thermo-mechanical phenomena are identified. Deformation or collapse above the cavity may cause a collapse in the overlying layers or subsidence at the surface level. These phenomena are highly dependent on the thermoporomechanical behavior of the rock surrounding the cavity (the host rocks). Unlike conventional methods, the UCG technology introduces an additional variable into the physical problem: the high temperatures, which evolve with time and space. In this framework, we performed numerical analyses of the coal site that could be exploited using this method. The numerical results presented in this paper are derived from models based on different assumptions describing a raw geological background. Several 3D (3 dimensional) and 2D (2 dimensional, plane) nonlinear finite element modelings are performed based on two methods. The first assumes a rock medium as a perfect thermo-elastoplastic continuum. In the second, in order to simulate large space scale crack propagation explicitly, we develop a method based upon finite element deactivation. This method is built on a finite element mesh refinement and uses Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. Based on the analysis of the numerical results, we can highlight two main factors influencing the behavior and the mechanical stability of the overburden, and consequently the UCG process evolution. The first is the size of the cavity. This geometrical parameter, which is common to all types of coal exploitation, is best controlled using the classic exploitation method. We show that in the case of UCG, the shape of the cavity and its evolution over time can be modified considerably by the thermomechanical behavior of the host rocks. The second is the presence of a heat source whose location and intensity evolve over time. Even if thermal diffusivity of the rock is low and only a small distance from the coal reactor is thermally affected, we show that the induced mechanical changes extend significantly in the overburden, and that subsidence can therefore be estimated at the surface. We conclude the integration of the mechanical analysis into a risk analysis process mechanical analysis can be integrated in a thorough risk analysis.     

浅埋矿区煤炭开采对地表生态环境的影响研究

在分析大量文献资料的基础上,从地表塌陷、土壤破坏、水体污染等方面综述了浅埋矿区煤炭开采对地表生态环境影响的研究现状.并指出当前研究中存在的问题,包括煤炭开采对生态环境的影响主要集中某一方面的环境问题,以及缺乏对生态环境有效的预测方法等.针对上述问题,结合浅埋煤矿区生态环境特征,构建了相对完整的生态环境评价指标体系,筛选出基于灰色系统模型的预测方法,进而为下一步建立预测模型和预警系统奠定基础.     

Fe基催化剂对煤热解-燃烧的NOx排放控制耦合效果

为解决民用散烧原煤中NO_x排放高的问题,提出了“热解减氮耦合燃烧脱硝”方法,即将煤与铁助剂混合,通过管式炉热解制备洁净燃料,并对洁净燃料燃烧过程中NO_x排放情况进行研究.结合表征手段,考察铁助剂对氮迁移影响规律.结果表明,铁助剂的负载比为0.5wt%,热解温度为1000℃时耦合效果最佳,相对于未负载时,焦炭燃烧NO_x排放量减少34.65%.热解前负载的铁助剂在焦炭中稳定存在,并可促进热解过程中含氮化合物向N₂的转化;在洁净焦炭燃烧过程中,铁助剂的存在利于C和CO与NO_x还原,进而降低燃烧过程NO_x的高排放.通过一步引入的铁助剂,在煤热解-洁净燃料燃烧过程中对NO_x控制耦合效果,最终实现了NO_x的超低排放.     

民用清洁煤技术的定量评价与筛选

选用合适的民用清洁煤技术是提高居民生活用煤能源利用效率、减少环境污染的重要途径之一,本文利用笔者提出的清洁煤技术定量评价方法对民用清洁煤技术进行了定量评价与筛选,评价结果表明,在标准状态下各种民用适用清洁煤技术的单位综合成本分别为选煤48元/GJ,民用型煤45.73元/GJ,炼焦制气28.53元/GJ,加压气化联产甲醇54.73元/GJ,加压气化联产油蜡50.71元/GJ,两段炉气化88.66元/GJ,直立炉气化38.84元/GJ,其中炼焦制气是单位综合成本最小的民用清洁煤技术．敏感度分析表明,煤气化将是民用清洁煤技术的主要发展方向     

调兵山市利用煤层气资源优化能源消费结构的环境效益分析

调兵山市拥有丰富的煤层气资源,但未能全部开发利用。在该市的能源消费结构中,煤炭等传统能源仍占有较大比例,燃煤烟气是该市大气环境质量的主要影响因素之一。本文简要阐述煤层气采输工艺及调兵山市煤层气需求量,从正、负环境影响两个方面进行分析,对比得出利用煤层气资源优化能源消费结构所带来的环境效益。     

磷石膏还原分解过程中CaS的产生机理分析

在N₂气氛下,利用热重分析仪和管式炉,研究了不同粒径还原剂高硫煤条件下磷石膏分解过程中CaS的产生机理.结果表明:在1 000～1 150 ℃的范围内,CaS主要是由磷石膏中的CaSO₄与高硫煤气化产生的CO反应产生.在CaSO₄分解过程中CaS与CaO的生成反应存在明显的平行竞争现象.CaS的产生机理可以通过缩芯模型进行合理解释.对磷石膏分解的固相及气相产物进行的物性分析表明,不同粒径高硫煤对CaS生成量的影响主要是通过控制煤粉气化过程及后续反应来实现的.      

短程硝化的生化机理及其动力学

短程硝化的生化反应机理和动力学是生物脱氮技术的理论基础,同时也是生物脱氮工艺设计、运行科学化和合理化的重要依据.基于短程硝化的生化机理、氨氧化菌的电子传递(能量产生)模式,从微生物学和化学计量学两个方面详细论述了短程硝化一系列复杂的生化反应过程.由此可知,短程硝化是一个涉及多种酶及多种中间产物,并伴随着电子(能量)传递的复杂生化反应过程,是基质(NH4 -N)利用(产能代谢)和微生物(氨氧化菌)增殖(合成代谢)两类反应的综合,因此,研究氨氮比利用速率和氨氧化菌比增殖速率动力学则是对短程硝化反应的深层次研讨.并建议采用积分法和微分法来确定动力学参数μnmax、KN、vnmax.     

煤炭非燃料利用与洁净煤技术

煤炭是中国的主要能源和资源，也是主要的污染源。煤炭燃料利用的不洁净使得其能源主导地位受到石油、天然气和新能源越来越大的挑战。寻求合理、高效、洁净的煤炭非燃料利用新途径应当成为煤化工发展的重要方向。本文在分析了煤炭燃料利用存在问题和前景的基础上，强调煤炭非燃料利用应当成为洁净煤技术的一种主要形式，并指出煤炭非燃料利用的合理途径。     

利用有机质发酵产氢的影响因素与应用前景

煤、石油等化石能源的紧缺,使得氢气等可再生能源的开发与利用备受关注.生物制氢技术由于在获得清洁能源氢气的同时,还使得大量有机废弃物得到处理或净化,从而使得该技术成为当前研究的热点.总结了发酵产氢的微生物种类及产氢基质,阐述了不同有机物种类的发酵产氢机理,综述了温度、pH值、金属离子、气相条件及氧化还原电位等生态因子对发酵产氢的影响,并论述了生物制氢技术的发展方向和应用前景.     

Utilisation of bubble resonance phenomena to improve gas–liquid contact

 In several branches of science and technology a gaseous phase is dispersed into a liquid in the form of bubbles, a gaseous component then dissolves into the liquid and subsequently undergoes chemical reaction. The overall process performance can be improved substantially when the area of gas–liquid contact is increased. By subjecting the liquid phase to low frequency vibrations, the bubbles are shown to suffer significant breakage, induced by resonance. When the vibration is properly tuned, the interfacial area is found to increase by a factor of 1.8–2.4, depending on the properties of the liquid. Resonance-induced bubble breakage phenomena have a great potential for improving the rates of chemical processes involving fast reactions, with minimal energy input. Received: 7 July 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 28 August 2000     

关中地区清洁能源供暖综合效益评价——西安某商业建筑的案例实证

随着中国发展方式转变与能源结构转型的深入推进,能源消耗“双控”与燃煤替代供热清洁化、集中化成为必然趋势。清洁供暖效益评价研究是一个动态的系统性问题,涉及技术、财务、经济和社会评价等方面。目前,有关供热模式评价一般集中在经济和技术视角,难以系统反映经济社会、环境资源等深层次问题。以空气源热泵、燃气锅炉和浅层地热能为主多能互补的供暖方案为评价对象,采用系统评价的方法,基于DPSIR模型构建清洁能源供暖综合效益评价指标体系,利用AHP-POS灰色关联度模型定量评价西安市商业建筑清洁能源供暖方案综合效益和D-P-S-I-R子系统的影响作用。结果表明：在经济、技术和投资环境等条件允许情况下,应优先实施以浅层地热能为主的多能互补供暖方案,依次实施煤改电和煤改气方案。进而提出关中地区清洁能源供暖监管体系对策建议,以供决策者和投资者参考。     

我国核电与煤电环境影响的外部成本比较

应用影响路径分析和生命周期分析方法建立了核电能源链与煤电能源链的外部成本计量框架,对二者的环境影响的外部成本进行了比较评价.结果表明:煤电能源链向环境排放的污染物直接导致酸雨、降尘和全球变暖等环境效应,对人体健康、植被、生态系统、材料和清洗等造成明显影响;而核电能源链未发现可察觉的环境影响.从污染物(SO₂,NO_x,PM和CO₂)排放看,煤电能源链比核电能源链高2个数量级;煤电能源链的辐射影响是核电能源链的40倍;煤电能源链总的外部成本是核电能源链的115倍.比较可知:①核电是清洁的能源,其比煤电更有利于环境;②以煤为主的能源结构是环境问题的主要原因之一;③现行的能源价格机制中没有合理地体现环境成本.应通过节约能源、提高能源效率、改善能源结构、发展清洁能源技术、外部成本内部化以完善能源价格机制等途径促进能源的可持续发展.