Coal Gasification

For more than a decade, Southern Research has assisted Southern Company with the demonstration and testing of coal and coal-biomass gasification at the National Carbon Capture Center (formerly the Power Systems Development Facility) in Wilsonville, AL. The gasification process employed at this facility utilizes the unique Transport Gasifier developed by Kellogg, Brown, and Root (KBR). The Transport Gasifier is based on KBR's fluidized catalytic cracking technology and has been perfected through extensive testing. Based on our experience at this advanced facility, Southern Research offers clients extensive expertise in gasifier development that includes:

• Characterization of gasifier char to assess carbon conversion and ash behavior
• Specialized sampling and analyses to evaluated the performance of the high-temperature, high-loading cyclones used in the gasifier recycle loop
• Development and testing of additives to prevent ash agglomeration when gasifying high-sodium lignite
• Extensive development and testing of hot-gas filter used to collect gasification ash
• Specialized gas sampling to evaluate syngas quality and trace organics and metals

Additionally, Southern Research scientists and engineers combine extensive research and development experience in coal gasification with market research and technology assessments in the field. Our experience has been applied to municipal solid waste (MSW), biomass, and biomass-coal co-gasification-related technology and assessments in response to market demand and changes, including:

• Support for design, operation, and evaluation of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) coal pyrolysis and gasification projects
• Review and assessment of U.S. Department of Energy clean coal projects
• Development of strategies for commercialization of IGCC technology