Produzione e trasformazione di energia primaria 
Produzione e distribuzione di elettricità e calore 
Tecnologie per i trasporti 
Tecnologie per il residenziale e i servizi 
Tecnologie per l'industria e l'agricoltura Produzione e trasformazione di energia primaria
Coal Gasification
Autors: Andrea Lanzini, Elena Rozzi, Claudia Bassano
Production and Transformation of Primary Energy
The coal gasification process is based on thermochemical conversion technologies that involve the decomposition of carbon-rich fuels (coal, oil, biomass) into a combustible gaseous mixture (syngas) and a solid phase (char). Gasification is achieved by the partial combustion of carbon-based materials in a low oxygen environment at high temperatures.
The gasification process can be allothermal (i.e., biomass is heated by an external heat source), or autothermal (i.e., the heat is generated directly by the partial oxidation of the biomass) and can be accomplished in situ (underground coal gasification) or in processing plants. Gasifiers can be classified in moving-bed, fluidized-bed, or entrained flow configurations. The generated syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), steam, and other hydrocarbons. It can be used for biofuels synthesis or energy generation by feeding boiler burners, internal combustion engines, micro-turbines, fuel cells, or gas turbines. Syngas can be also used to feed co-fired power plants either directly by gasifying biomass and coal together, or indirectly, by gasifying coal and biomass separately.
Coal gasification has been undertaken industrially for over 200 years. Therefore, gasification is a mature and commercial solution though the more efficient application of the gasification process coupled with fuel cells or gas turbines, and other applications for gaseous and liquid synthetic fuels generation is still under development.
The gasification process can be allothermal (i.e., biomass is heated by an external heat source), or autothermal (i.e., the heat is generated directly by the partial oxidation of the biomass) and can be accomplished in situ (underground coal gasification) or in processing plants. Gasifiers can be classified in moving-bed, fluidized-bed, or entrained flow configurations. The generated syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), steam, and other hydrocarbons. It can be used for biofuels synthesis or energy generation by feeding boiler burners, internal combustion engines, micro-turbines, fuel cells, or gas turbines. Syngas can be also used to feed co-fired power plants either directly by gasifying biomass and coal together, or indirectly, by gasifying coal and biomass separately.
Coal gasification has been undertaken industrially for over 200 years. Therefore, gasification is a mature and commercial solution though the more efficient application of the gasification process coupled with fuel cells or gas turbines, and other applications for gaseous and liquid synthetic fuels generation is still under development.
06-07-2022