CFD simulations of influence of steam in gasification agent on parameters of UCG process

Underground coal gasification (UCG) is considered to be a perspective and constantly developing technology. Nevertheless it is a very complex and technically difficult process, which results depend on many variables. Mathematical models enable detailed analysis of UCG process – for example – give possibility of prediction of syngas composition depending on applied gasification medium. In practice, mixtures of oxygen, air and steam are the most frequently used as converting agents. Steam is injected to the reactor in order to obtain combustible components. Nevertheless higher concentrations of steam create a problem of reduction of temperature in reactor. This issue of amount of steam in reacting system was analyzed in given paper. Computer simulations were used as test method applied in presented work. Calculations were carried by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CDF) method and Ansys Fluent software. Changes in outlet concentrations of syngas components (CO, CO2, CH4, H2O, H2), in relation with time of process, were presented. Composition of product gas, its heating value and temperature of process were also examined (on outlet of rector) in function of content of steam in gasification agent (which was mixture of O2 and H2O). Obtained results indicated a possibility of conduct of stable gasification process (with predictable characteristic of gas). The simulation also demonstrated a possibility of deterioration of conditions in real reactors as a results of applying of too high amounts of steam.