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Model-Free Control of UCG Based on Continual Optimization of Operating Variables: An Experimental Study

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  • Ján Kačur

    (Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty BERG, Technical University of Košice, Němcovej 3, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Marek Laciak

    (Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty BERG, Technical University of Košice, Němcovej 3, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Milan Durdán

    (Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty BERG, Technical University of Košice, Němcovej 3, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Patrik Flegner

    (Institute of Control and Informatization of Production Processes, Faculty BERG, Technical University of Košice, Němcovej 3, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

The underground coal gasification (UCG) represents an effective coal mining technology, where coal is transformed into syngas underground. Extracted syngas is cleaned and processed for energy production. Various gasification agents can be injected into an underground georeactor, e.g., air, technical oxygen, or water steam, to ensure necessary temperature and produce syngas with the highest possible calorific value. This paper presents an experimental study where dynamic optimization of operating variables maximizes syngas calorific value during gasification. Several experiments performed on an ex situ reactor show that the optimization algorithm increased syngas calorific value. Three operation variables, i.e., airflow, oxygen flow, and syngas exhaust, were continually optimized by an algorithm of gradient method. By optimizing the manipulation variables, the calorific value of the syngas was increased by 5 MJ/m 3 , both in gasification with air and additional oxygen. Furthermore, a higher average calorific value of 4.8–5.1 MJ/m 3 was achieved using supplementary oxygen. The paper describes the proposed ex situ reactor, the mathematical background of the optimization task, and results obtained during optimal control of coal gasification.

Suggested Citation

  • Ján Kačur & Marek Laciak & Milan Durdán & Patrik Flegner, 2021. "Model-Free Control of UCG Based on Continual Optimization of Operating Variables: An Experimental Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:14:p:4323-:d:596509
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laciak, Marek & Kostúr, Karol & Durdán, Milan & Kačur, Ján & Flegner, Patrik, 2016. "The analysis of the underground coal gasification in experimental equipment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 332-343.
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    1. Ján Kačur & Marek Laciak & Milan Durdán & Patrik Flegner, 2023. "Investigation of Underground Coal Gasification in Laboratory Conditions: A Review of Recent Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-55, August.
    2. Feng, Lele & Zhou, Sibo & Xu, Xiangcen & Qin, Botao, 2022. "Importance evaluation for influencing factors of underground coal gasification through ex-situ experiment and analytic hierarchy process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PA).
    3. Krzysztof Skrzypkowski & Krzysztof Zagórski & Anna Zagórska, 2021. "Determination of the Extent of the Rock Destruction Zones around a Gasification Channel on the Basis of Strength Tests of Sandstone and Claystone Samples Heated at High Temperatures up to 1200 °C and ," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-27, October.

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