Coal gasification at pressure by mixtures of carbon dioxide and oxygen

This Paper discusses results obtained from experiments on coal gasification by mixtures of carbon dioxide and oxygen under pressure. This research was carried out at the INIEX pilot station as part of the Belgian-German programme for the development of underground gasification. Tests were carried out to study the influence of the ratio of carbon dioxide to injected oxygen on the composition and the heating value of the gas obtained, the gasification efficiency and the consumption of the gasification medium. The experimental results can be satisfactorily explained by means of a model based on thermodynamic equilibria, assuming that gasification is brought about by an internal gasification agent formed by the volatile components of the coal and by an external gasification agent consisting of injected carbon dioxide and oxygen.