Coal gasification has long been studied actively to develop more abundant coal as an alternative source for gaseous and liquid fuels as well as to provide coal-derived synthesis gas for synthesis of fertilizers, petrochemicals, and polymers. While coal gasification research efforts have had diverse objectives and foci, the basis of coal gasification technological innovation has come largely from the science and technology of C1-chemistry, surface chemistry, chemical thermodynamics, reactor engineering, separation science and technology, environmental science, and energy materials. Dr. Lee and his group have been directly involved in the following areas of coal gasification research:
(1) Kinetics of coal char gasification
- kinetics of CO2 gasification of coal and char & reduction of CO2
- kinetics of steam gasification of coal and char
- kinetics of hydrogasification of coal and char
(2) Mathematical modeling of coal char gasification–development of a 2-parameter progressive conversion model and a universal curve for coal conversion
- S. Lee*, J. C. Angus, R. V. Edwards and N. C. Gardner, “Non-Catalytic Coal Char Gasification”, AIChE Journal, Vol. 30(4), pp. 583-593, 1984.
(3) Elucidation of concurrent water gas shift reaction
(4) Synthane gasifier studies
- J. C. Angus (PI), N. C. Gardner, and S. Lee, “Study of Coal Reactivities”, Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA), U.S. Department of Energy, DOE/ET/10526-T1, pp. 1-184, Available through NTIS, 1981.
(5) Biomass gasification using the principles of coal gasification process
(6) Use of a thermobalance reactor for coal conversion experimental study
(7) Assessment of Texaco gasifier and Koppers-Totzek gasifier as a synthesis gas source for the Liquid Phase Methanol Synthesis Process
(8) Further advanced utilization of CO-rich syngas and CO2-rich syngas
Recent interests and activities in the field include:
(1) Integration of CO2 gasification of coal with the coal combustion facility as an effort to mitigate the greenhouse gas emission and to enhance the energy efficiency.
(2) Studies leading to reaction and conversion of carbon dioxide to useful chemicals and/or fuels
(3) Reduction of CO2 to more reactive CO as the initial step of CO2 recycling
(4) Utilization of CO2-rich Syngas in chemical synthesis processes such as methanol and dimethylether synthesis
(5) Gasification and/or chemical conversion of coal tar into useful chemical(s)
(6) Gasification of combined feedstock of biomass and coal
(7) Combination of torrefaction and gasification of biomass
(8) Gasification of high molecular hydrocarbons
(9) Enhancements in IGCC and BGCC
(10) Energy-efficient small-scale gasification unit
(11) PEM FC grade hydrogen generation via coal gasification
(12) Integration of solar energy with CO2 conversion and management
(13) Development of coal-based specialty chemicals
(14) Novel ideas for efficient CO2 capture
(15) Integration with on-stream tar removal technology
For more detailed scientific and technological information on coal gasification, the following reference books authored by Dr. Lee are recommended as further reading.
1. S. Lee, “Alternative Fuels“, Taylor & Francis, Washington, D.C., ISBN-1-56032-361-2, 1996.
2. S. Lee, J. G. Speight, and S.K. Loyalka, “Handbook of Alternative Fuel Technologies”, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, ISBN: 0-8247-4069-6, FL 2007.
3. S. Lee, “Gasification of Coal”, in Handbook of Alternative Fuel Technologies, 2nd Edition, Eds. S. Lee, J.G. Speight, S, K. Loyalka, Chapter 2, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2014.
For more detailed scientific and technological information on biomass gasification, the following reference book authored by Drs. Lee and Shah is recommended as further reading.
1. S. Lee and Y.T. Shah, Co-authors, “Biofuels and Bioenergy: Processes and Technologies”, ISBN: 978-1-4200-8955-4, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2012
By no means, this list is complete or covers all the interests and capabilities of our research group in this field. If interested in devising, sponsoring, and/or collaborating on specific R&DD topic(s) in this field, please contact us.
Sunggyu Lee, PhD 