Industrial Fixed-Bed Coal Gasification: An Economic Alternative to Deregulated Natural Gas

The role of coal in the United States energy future will definitely increase due to the higher cost of oil and natural gas. This paper reviews the projected role which coal will play in this country within the next twenty years.

Specifically, the generation of coal derived industrial fuel gas using fixed bed gasifiers is reviewed. The fixed bed gasifier technology presented includes the single-stage “galusha” gasifier and the two-stage gasifier design offered by Black, Sivalls & Bryson, Incorporated. The paper reviews the use of various U.S. coals in these industrial gasifiers and presents operational data from a variety of coals.

The use of coal derived industrial fuel gas by companies within the U.S. is reviewed including the economic criteria which lead to these industries investing in coal gasification systems. Projected fuel costs are presented. These data suggest a cross-over between coal derived IFG and natural gas costs in the 1985 time frame.