Coal catalyzation to simplify the conversion of coal to SNG. Final report, March 1988-May 1990

The process implications of catalyzing coal with impregnated calcium on the production of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) were evaluated. An Illinois No. 6 was catalyzed with calcium at various treatment conditions and then gasified in a thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) to determine empirical relationships relating its reactivity to treatment and gasification conditions. Catalyzed coal was also gasified in a continuous bench-scale fluid bed steam/oxygen gasifier. Results of these tests indicate catalyzation eliminates agglomeration and substantially increases gasification reactivity. In addition, the calcium acts as a sulfur adsorbent. Process cost modeling studies indicated that the greatest economic potential for the utilization of catalyzed coal is to take advantage of the reactivity by utilizing a system for steam gasification of the coal using heat supplied by combustion of the gasified char in a separate combustor thereby eliminating the need for oxygen while maintaining production of a medium BTU gas. The results of this work are also directly applicable to gasification systems for electric power generation as well as for the production of synthesis gas for chemical production.