Coal Gasification and Its Applications

Chair of Petroleum Engineering, The University of Queensland

University of Wyoming

Chair of Dept, 2004 - 2008

Editor-in-Chief International Journal of Petroleum Engineering, 2009

Associate Editor and Board member of Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2007-present.

Skyrocketing energy costs have spurred renewed interest in coal gasification. Currently available information on this subject needs to be updated, however, and focused on specific coals and end products. For example, carbon capture and sequestration, previously given little attention, now has a prominent role in coal conversion processes.

This book approaches coal gasification and related technologies from a process engineering point of view, with topics chosen to aid the process engineer who is interested in a complete, coal-to-products system. It provides a perspective for engineers and scientists who analyze and improve components of coal conversion processes.

The first topic describes the nature and availability of coal. Next, the fundamentals of gasification are described, followed by a description of gasification technologies and gas cleaning processes. The conversion of syngas to electricity, fuels and chemicals is then discussed. Finally, process economics are covered. Emphasis is given to the selection of gasification technology based on the type of coal fed to the gasifier and desired end product: E.g., lower temperature gasifiers produce substantial quantities of methane, which is undesirable in an ammonia synthesis feed. This book also reviews gasification kinetics which is informed by recent papers and process design studies by the US Department of Energy and other groups, and also largely ignored by other gasification books.

. Approaches coal gasification and related technologies from a process engineering point of view, providing a perspective for engineers and scientists who analyze and improve components of coal conversion processes
. Describes the fundamentals of gasification, gasification technologies, and gas cleaning processes
. Emphasizes the importance of the coal types fed to the gasifier and desired end products
. Covers gasification kinetics, which was largely ignored by other gasification books

Coal gasification enables engineers, energy companies and policy experts to unlock the potential of domestic coal reserves for cleaner energy and energy security. Taking a process engineering approach to the subject, Bell and Towler outline a complete coal-to-products system and provide guidance for those who are working to improve specific components in the coal conversion processes. While coal gasification is a mature technology, it is receiving fresh attention as a cleaner technology for coal-based energy production and as an enabling technology to make deeper coal reserves economically viable. Thus, gasification has become part of the CleanTech and energy security agendas. As well as introducing engineers and students to the core principles and practice of coal gasification, the authors introduce new technologies such as in-situ gasification of coal, CO2 sequestration and gas cleaning processes. Coal Gasification and Its Applications is an in-depth study of the coal to gas process. It includes a well-researched look at the carbon capture and sequestration, a topic that has previously been ignored by most other coal gasification publications.

1. The Nature of Coal2. Non-gasification Coal Use3. Gasification Fundamentals; Gasifiers4. In-situ Gasification5. Gas Cleaning6. Water-gas shift7. IGCC8. Syngas to Chemicals9. Syngas to Fuels10. Carbon Sequestration11. Economics