Abstract
Coal gasification experiments were carried out in a reactor used to simulate underground coal gasification (UCG) processes under ex situ conditions at pressures of 10 and 40 bar. Changes in the optical properties of the organic matter were analyzed and the influence of temperature on coal during the UGC process was subsequently determined. The values of the true maximum reflectance determined for the gasification residue at pressures of 10 and 40 bar, and at distances of 0.75 and 1.75 m, reached a level corresponding to semi-graphite. Furthermore, it was found that the values of the true maximum reflectance and bireflectance decrease with increasing distance from the reactor chamber inlet. In addition, the results show that, regardless of the pressure used during the experiment, the temperature influence on the coal decreased with increasing distance from the reactor chamber inlet. The true temperatures operating during the experiment were higher than those recorded by the thermocouples, regardless of the pressure used. However, it was found that the distance at which the influence of temperature on the coal is still marked during the gasification process depends on the pressure used in the experiment. For example, in the case of the experiment at a pressure of 10 bar, the estimated distance is approximately 60 m, while for a pressure of 40 bar, it is approximately 35 m. These results can, and should, be taken into account for the planning of an UGC process.