Lviv Polytechnic National University:

Pikh Z. G., Head of a Chair of Technology of Organic Products, Prorector for Research, Professor, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, e-mail: cencon@ukr.net

Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Combustible Minerals National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine:

Stefanik Yu. V., Head of Department of Problems of Geotechnology of Combustible Minerals, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Buchinskaya I. V., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Geological Sciences

The coal quality and grade composition are the main factors, which determine the technical and economic feasibility of their underground gasification. The proposed geotechnology foresees a cyclic water pumping on water steam into the coal bed seams. The coal bed seam is preliminary heated to the temperature, at which proceeds a reaction of the synthesis gas obtaining. The process of underground gasification of coal consists of the alternation of the directions of two reagents of the gasification reaction: in one direction - the air for firing and heating of coal bed seams (the first semiperiod) and in the opposite direction – the gasifiable agent (water) for obtaining of synthesis gas (the second semiperiod). Steady obtaining of synthesis gas is provided by creation of several plots on the coal bed seams (in twos for each of them). These hiles work in the antiphase of the cyclic process of underground gasification of coal. The proposed geotechnology allows to obtain the synthesis gas with a heat of combustion of 2600–2700 Kcal/m³. This depends on the coal quality, depth of coal bed seams occurrence and thermodynamic conditions of underground gasification. The industrial application of the given technology is reasonable for unconditional coal bed seams (thin, deep-seated, water-encroached with the little content of the organic matter etc.). Production of these coal bed seams by a traditional mining way is unprofitable or is impossible at all.

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