How water vapor and carbon dioxide additives affect oxygen gasification of pulverized coal fuel

The paper analyzes entrained-flow high-oxygen gasification of pulverized coal (a Shell type process) is considered. Water vapor is commonly added to increase the yield of combustible components. This research uses a mathematical model in a one-dimensional stationary approximation to see how adding carbon dioxide and a mixture of carbon dioxide and water vapor to the oxygen flow will affect the process. The paper presents estimates of thermochemical conversion rate (cold gas efficiency), combustible gas content, and completeness of fuel carbon conversion for all the tested configurations. Calculations show that adding carbon dioxide can reduce the specific oxygen consumption of the gasification process whilst ensuring more complete fuel conversion. Adjustments in the water vapor to carbon dioxide ratio help control the gas composition (albeit in a rather narrow range) and the temperature of the raw produced gas at the reaction zone outlet.