A Side Wall Burn Model for Cavity Growth in Underground Coal Gasification

A mechanistic computer model is presented which predicts the 3-D cavity growth during the gasification phase of underground coal gasification. Developed for swelling bituminous coals, the model also obtains reasonable cavity width and length values for shrinking sub-bituminous coals. The model predicts cavity shape and burn-through times based on the coal properties, seam thickness, water reacting and the interwell distance. Employing a 2-D boundary layer model to determine the convective diffusion rate of oxygen to the reacting walls, it is found that natural convection diffusion must be included. The model includes flow in the injection region, the swirling, mixing effect in the cavity, and transitions from thick to thin seam geometry. Simulations of the Hanna II, Phase 2 and Pricetown I field tests, as well as a parametric study on Pittsburgh seam coal, are presented.