The coal in-situ gasification pilot project was successful at Chenghe Mining

Thread Content

Coal in-situ gasification test project successful at Chenghe Mining Company Author/Source: Shaanxi Petrochemical News Date: May 18, 2021 Clicks: 19 On May 17, it was reported from Shaanxi Coal Group’s Chenghe Mining Company that the coal in-situ gasification test project, involving furnace No. 3, was successfully ignited at the Wangcun inclined shaft. As of the 16th, this furnace had been operating steadily for 20 days in a row, producing around 1,000 cubic meters of syngas per hour, with peak production reaching 2,100 cubic meters; in total, 600,000 cubic meters of syngas have been produced so far. This project is the first in the country to integrate drilling-based and mine-based underground gasification technologies. Experts estimate that the current operating performance of the gasification furnace is at a leading level in China. In 2015, in line with the **policy to reduce coal production capacity and Shaanxi Coal Group’s efforts to accelerate corporate reforms, Chenghe Mining Company officially shut down the Wangcun inclined shaft. At that time, the mine had nearly 60 million tons of coal resources remaining. In order to utilize the remaining resources in the mines, promote the development of the enterprise, provide employment for redundant workers, and boost the local economy, after thorough investigations and research, the company decided in 2016 to rely on the relevant technologies from the Coal Underground Gasification Laboratory at China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing) to carry out experiments on coal underground gasification in the Wangcun inclined shaft, thereby exploring a path for the transformation and development of coal enterprises. After several years of construction, this testing facility was brought online on April 27 this year; it produces an average of 30,000 cubic meters of syngas per day, which is higher than the designed output of 15,000 cubic meters per day – representing a production rate more than three times higher. It is currently the only testing project in China that uses the shaft-based gasification method for underground coal gasification and operates stably. The effective components of the produced syngas account for about 70%, mainly carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane; simultaneously, sulfur, tar, and other by-products are also generated. “Coal in-situ gasification technology will have a transformative impact on traditional coal mining methods, and it is particularly significant for the utilization of coal resources in medium and deep deposits, the remaining resources in closed mines, unminable resources, as well as coal resources that have no economic value, as well as for their safe and efficient extraction. ”Wang Qingjun, the director of the Wangcun inclined shaft, said that this project is a key research initiative of Shaanxi Coal Group, and it will serve as a national demonstration site for underground coal gasification. After the successful trial, it led and propelled China’s coal underground gasification technology to a new level. It is understood that since the launch of the Wangcun inclined shaft coal in-situ gasification project, experience in the construction and management of coal in-situ gasification has been initially acquired. Twelve scientific research achievements, as well as over 20 patented technologies, have been developed, including the techniques of \"separating and controlling the retreat of gas injection points – water-atomized gasification\", underground remote control, and automatic detection and prevention of fires and explosions.