Coal gasification converts coal into a synthetic gas (syngas) by heating it with limited oxygen and steam in a high-temperature, high-pressure reactor. The process involves preparing the coal, reacting it with an oxidizer and steam, and then cleaning the resulting syngas to remove impurities. This syngas, a mixture of gases including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, can then be used to generate electricity, produce liquid fuels, or create chemicals.

The Gasification Process

Preparation:

Coal is crushed into a fine powder to increase its surface area, and moisture is removed.

Gasification:

The powdered coal is fed into a gasifier reactor. Here, a limited amount of oxygen or air and steam are introduced under high temperatures and pressure.

Chemical Reactions:

The coal undergoes a series of reactions, primarily partial oxidation and reduction, which break it down into syngas.

Gas Cleaning:

The raw syngas is cooled, and impurities like tar, sulfur, and dust are removed.

Syngas Processing:

The cleaned syngas can be further processed to adjust the hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio or used directly.

What is Syngas?

Syngas is a fuel gas composed primarily of carbon monoxide.

Syngas is a fuel gas composed primarily of carbon monoxide (CO) and Hydrogen (H₂), with smaller amounts of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and Methane (CH₄).

Uses of Syngas

• Electricity generation: The gas can be burned to generate electricity.
• Chemical production: It serves as a feedstock for producing chemicals like fertilizers and plastics.
• Liquid fuels: It can be transformed into liquid fuels, such as diesel.