HYDRO GASIFICATION OF BROWN COAL

Abstract

Hydrogasification of Brown Coal as a route for producing substitute natural gas (SNG)is discussed on the basis of experimental results received with two types of Rheinische Braunkohle (3.5 and 17 wt % ash), using slow linear heating, shock heating and hydrogen pressures between 0.2 and 5 MPa. A complete gasification within less than 10 min under conditions of hydropyrolysis (no coke formation) with maximum methane selectivity is possible by using 5 MPa hydrogen, 950 ⁰C and shock heating. Moisture introduced either with coal or hydrogen strongly inhibits methane formation, probable reasons and possible solutions of the problem are discussed.