Technological aspects of underground coal gasification in the Experimental “Barbara” Mine

This article describes the process and results of the UCG shaft method experiment carried out using a V-shaped gasification channel. The UCG process was conducted at the Experimental “Barbara” Mine as part of the Research Fund of Coal and Steel (RFCS) project HUGE 2 (2011-2014). The reactor was placed in coal seam 310 at a depth of 30 m, and oxygen and water were applied as gasification reagents. During this experiment 5364 kg of hard coal was gasified, with an average consumption rate of 37.8 kg/h. The average heating value of the produced gas and thermal power in the combustor were 8.91 MJ/N m3 and 192.5 kW, respectively. The average H2 and CO contents in the produced gas were 36.3 vol.% and 31.9 vol.%, respectively. The thermal efficiency of the gasification process was 70%. Tar obtained from this process was mixed with large amount of dust and were different properties from the typical tar obtained from the coking process. Postburn area venting was necessary for 30 days after the installation shutdown. After this time, the reactor reached its initial thermal conditions.