1. COMPLEX PROCESSING OF SOLID FUEL IN PLASMA CHEMICAL REACTOR
V.E. Messerle, A.B. Ustimenko
Combustion problems Institute, Research Institute of Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Almaty, Kazakhstan
3rd World Congress on Petrochemistry and Chemical Engineering
November 30 - December 02, 2015 Atlanta, USA

2. Proven reserves of fossil fuels worldwide
It is not the use of coal, but how the coal is used that must be the focus of action – World Coal Institute, London
Proven reserves of fossil fuels worldwide
1 – coal, 2 – oil fuel, 3 – gas
British Petrol Statistical Review of World Energy, 2013

3. The initial mixture composition is: 100 kg of coal + 40.25 kg of steam
Chemical analysis of the bituminous coal with 40% ash content and 16,632kJ/kg heating value , Wt. % dry mass basis С О2 Н2 N2 S
SiO2
Al2O3
Fe2O3
CaO
MgO
K2O
Na2O
48.86
6.56
3.05
0.8
0.73
23.09
13.8
2.15
0.34
0.31
0.16
0.15
The initial mixture composition is: 100 kg of coal kg of steam
Temperature dependence of concentrations of organic and mineral components in gas phase at comprehensive processing of coal 3

4. The mixture composition is: 100 kg of coal + 40.25 kg of steam
Temperature dependence of concentrations of components in condensed phase and coal gasification degree at complex processing of coal 4

5. Layout of Plasma Installation for Processing of Coal
solid fuel dust hopper
chambers of syngas sampling and cooling
This figure shows temperature dependence of specific energy consumption for the process of pulverized coal thermochemical preparation. It increases steadily. If to compare this figure with the previous one it is obvious the preferable temperature level of the process is within the range from 1100 to 1500K.
plasma gasifier 5

6. Scheme of Plasma Reactor
EXPERIMENTAL REACTOR FOR PLASMA GASIFICATION AND COMPREHENSIVE PROCESSING OF COAL
This figure shows temperature dependence of specific energy consumption for the process of pulverized coal thermochemical preparation. It increases steadily. If to compare this figure with the previous one it is obvious the preferable temperature level of the process is within the range from 1100 to 1500K.
Scheme of Plasma Reactor
1 – rode graphite cathode; 2 – cathode insulator; 3 – water cooled cover; 4 – electromagnetic coil; 5 – ring graphite anode; 6 – graphite orifice 6

7. PLASMA GASIFICATION AND COMPLEX PROCESSING OF COAL
a b
Plasmochemical reactor in operate mode (a) and view of the installation (b).
G2+G3+G4+G5=G6+G1+G7, [kg/h]
Parc+P1=P2+P3+P4+P5+P6, [kW] 7

8. Place of sample T, K Θ , % Slag from botm of the reactor 2600-2800
A Low-Rank Coal of 28% Ash Content Chemical Analysis, Wt.% dry mass basis C O H N S
SiO2
Fe2O3
CaO
MgO
K2O
Na2O
Al2O3
48.58
17.85
3.64
0.78
1.14
16.64
2.13
0.88
0.67
0.01
7.67
Main Indexes of Coal Plasma Comprehensive Processing
Consumption, kg/h
P, kW
SPC,
kW h/kg
TAV, K CO H2 N2
XC , %
XS , %
coal
steam
Volume %
7.1
4.5 60
5.17
3100
45.8
49.4
4.8
93.2
95.2
Reduction degree (Θ) of mineral matter of coal
Place of sample
T, K
Θ , %
Slag from botm of the reactor
Slag from the wall of the reactor
Stuff from slag cather
C + H2O = CO +H2
MnOm + C = nM +mCO
MenOm + C = nMe +mCO

9. Balance reserves of coal in Kazakhstan – 33 billion tons
THE MOTIVATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLASMA PROCESSING OF URANIUM-BEARING COAL
Balance reserves of coal in Kazakhstan – 33 billion tons
Uranium-bearing coal (0,06% U) -
14 billion tons
Plasma processing of uranium-bearing coal would increase the fuel base of the Republic of Kazakhstan by 42%, while the existing uranium base - 5 times, up to 5 million tons
The Economic Effect of plasma processing of uranium-bearing coal will exceed $ 550 billion

10. С+H2O=CO+H2 UnOm+mC=mCO+nU
BLOCK DIAGRAM OF PLASMA PROCESS FOR URANIUM, MOLYBDENUM AND VANADIUM EXTRACTING FROM COAL
С+H2O=CO+H2
UnOm+mC=mCO+nU

11. INTEGRAL PARAMETERS OF URANIUM-BEARING SHALE PLASMA PROCESSING
RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENTS ON PLASMA PROCESSING FOR URANIUM, MOLYBDENUM AND VANADIUM EXTRACTING FROM COAL
INTEGRAL PARAMETERS OF URANIUM-BEARING SHALE PLASMA PROCESSING
Gf, kg/h
Gsteam, kg/h
Тav, К
Qsp, kW h/kg
XU, %
XMo, %
XV, %
XС, %
5.82
2900
2.84
48.0
54.5
58.6
56.2
8.40
2500
1.93
25.7
34.5
41.7
54.6
6.60
0.60
2700
2.20
78.6
79.0
81.3
66.4
4.33
0.40
3150
3.04
23.6
24.3
29.0
70.4

12. Flame of syngas from high-ash Kuuchekinskiy coal
COMPLEX PROCESSING OF COAL
Flame of syngas from high-ash Kuuchekinskiy coal
Gas composition vol.%:
CO = 46.9
H2 = 52.3
N2 = 0.8
NOx < 15 ppm
SOx < 20 ppm
PLASMA STEAM GASIFICATION OF COAL
Flame of syngas from uranium-bearing coal Kulan-Komir
Gas composition vol.%:
CO = 41.4
H2 = 56.9
N2 = 1.7
NOx < 15 ppm
SOx < 20 ppm

13. CONCLUSIONS
The fulfilled computational and experimental investigations demonstrated that during comprehensive plasma processing of solid fuel its organic matter converts to synthesis gas, while its mineral matter to a range of valuable components.
The high-calorific value synthesis gas, produced by this process, can be used for synthesis of methanol, or as high-potential reducing gas instead of blast-furnace coke, as well as for power generation at thermal power plants.

14. Thanks !