<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div><br></div><div>Dear Kevin and all...</div><div><br></div><div>For various theoretical and experimentally tested reasons, I have come to believe that biomass is unstable relative to the products of "autopyrolysis". Bone dry wood in a closed container, once initiated, will Autopyrolyse to some CO2 and H2O and a number of other vapor species. A too simple equation could be</div><div><br></div><div>C H1.4 O 0.6 (woody biomass) ==> 0.4C(charcoal) + 0.6 CO2 + 0.7H2. Delta Hr = 127 kJ/mole </div><div>483. 160. 196. KJ/mole </div><div>And is exothermic. This would be a (4.8/23) yield of charcoal <br><br></div><div>Coal is approximately "CH". The similar equation is</div><div><br></div><div>CH (coal) ===> C (coke) + 1/2 H2. Delta Hr = 0 (+\_ 15%, the accuracy of the bomb calorimeter)</div><div>540. 400. 140</div><div>--------</div><div><br></div><div>So the "underground coal fire " is really a continuation of the coal making process, and not a fire at all, since there is no way to get oxygen underground.</div><div><br></div><div>MORE TO FOLLOW!</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Reed</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Thomas B Reed<div>President, The Biomass Energy Foundation</div><div><a href="http://www.Woodgas.com">www.Woodgas.com</a></div></div><div><br>On Feb 15, 2011, at 6:49 AM, "Kevin" <<a href="mailto:kchisholm@ca.inter.net">kchisholm@ca.inter.net</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Dear GF</font></div>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr">
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><b>From:</b>
<a title="gfwhell@aol.com" href="mailto:gfwhell@aol.com">GF</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org" href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org"><a href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org</a></a>
</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 15, 2011 2:44
AM</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Gasification] 300 Megawatt
Power Plant</div>
<div><br></div><font color="black" size="2" face="arial">
<div>kevin.</div>
<div>I understand there are mines that have caught fire underground by
accident in the 1950's and are still burning with the oxygen being
produced by FT reactions at the seat of the fire.<br>GF</div>
<div> </div>
<div># Very true!! It is easy to set a mine fire, under the right conditions.
There is no question that FT reactions work, and there is no question that
such accidental underground coalfield fires have occurred in coalfields that
have been mined. From what I can see, (and please correct me if I am
wrong):</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1: Such accidental underground coalfield fires are uncontrollable.</div>
<div>2: Such accidental underground coalfield fires can cause very significant
"surface damage", in terms of subsidence, or gas emanations that can make
nearby communities uninhabitable<br>3: Such accidental underground coalfield
fires do not produce a consistent gas, of value either for combustion in a
process, or for utiligation in a process.</div>
<div>4: Such accidental underground coalfield fires are generally considered
to be a disaster in the area where they occur.</div>
<div>5: Such accidental underground coalfield fires have never been used to
economic advantage</div>
<div>6: Such accidental underground coalfield fires are totally uncomparable
to "underground gasification projects intended to produce a fuel gas or
synthesis gas for economic benefit."</div>
<div>7: The Swan Hills Website contains a number of misleading statements
that seem to infer that their proposed project is equivalent to
"gasification", and that the relatively long history of
"gasification" can be used to show there project is technically feasible.
For example, at <a href="http://swanhills-synfuels.com/iscg/overview/ we see: "><a href="http://swanhills-synfuels.com/iscg/overview/">http://swanhills-synfuels.com/iscg/overview/</a>
we see: </a></div>
<div>Gasification History: Gasification was first developed in the 1800s and
has been used commercially throughout the world for more than 100 years. A
variety of industries have utilized the technology including chemical
production, fertilizer manufacturing, and electrical power generation. Today,
the majority of the operating gasification plants worldwide are surface
gasification plants designed to produce chemicals, fuels, electricity, and
fertilizers.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It then goes on to equate "Gasification" with "In-Situ Coal
Gasification " (ISCG)) in a misleading manner:</div>
<div>"<font size="2">How does Gasification work? Feedstock (for ISCG it is deep
coal) is exposed to high temperature and high pressure. In the presence of
steam at these conditions a series of chemical reactions occur which convert
the feedstock into syngas."</font></div>
<div>This would tend to suggest that the gas product from ISGC is equivalent
to the quality and production from a "surface gasification plant." The
Websiteite seems to gloss over the important differences, and seems to
overlook technical challenges that lie ahead for them. The Website contains a
number of statements which could be termed "forward looking."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Best wishes,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Kevin Chisholm</div>
<div> </div>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">-----Original
Message-----<br>From: Kevin <<a href="mailto:kchisholm@ca.inter.net"><a href="mailto:kchisholm@ca.inter.net">kchisholm@ca.inter.net</a></a>><br>To:
Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification <<a href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org"><a href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org</a></a>><br>Sent:
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 10:42 pm<br>Subject: Re: [Gasification] 300 Megawatt Power
Plant<br><br>
<div id="AOLMsgPart_3_af5d7b29-7962-4ade-adb5-4a8c27beb4a6">
<div><font face="Arial">Dear GF</font></div>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr">
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><b>From:</b>
<a title="gfwhell@aol.com" href="mailto:gfwhell@aol.com">GF</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org" href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org"><a href="mailto:gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org">gasification@lists.bioenergylists.org</a></a>
</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 14, 2011 5:47
PM</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Gasification] 300
Megawatt Power Plant</div>
<div><br></div><font color="black" size="2" face="arial">
<div>What happens to the chlorine component in the underground
reaction.<br>when using salt water. Chlorine is really unfriendly to metals
including stainless steel. </div>
<div>what sort of conduit is to be used for conducting the hot product
to the surface for refinement?</div>
<div> </div>
<div># Very gfood question!! The presence of chlorine in a starved oxygen
combustion environment is likely to generate an environmental disaster, with
the chlorinated hydrocarbons that that will almost certainly result.</div>
<div> </div>
<div># Underground gasification of coal is a really neat concept, but as far
as I know it doesn't work. See: </div>
<div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_coal_gasification" target="_blank"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_coal_gasification">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_coal_gasification</a></a> Many
people in many places have spent many dollars trying to get it to work.
After many tests, there does not appear to be a single commercially
successful Underground Coal Gasification project now, or in the past.</div>
<div> </div>
<div># See their Website at <a href="http://swanhills-synfuels.com/" target="_blank"><a href="http://swanhills-synfuels.com/">http://swanhills-synfuels.com/</a></a> On their FAQ page, <a href="http://swanhills-synfuels.com/iscg/faq/" target="_blank"><a href="http://swanhills-synfuels.com/iscg/faq/">http://swanhills-synfuels.com/iscg/faq/</a></a>, they state:
</div>
<div>"Gasification can compete effectively in high-cost energy
environments." This seems to say a lot.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Best wishes,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Kevin Chisholm</div>
<div> </div>
<div>GF<br></div>
<div style="CLEAR: both"></div><br><br>
</font><div style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font color="black" size="2" face="arial">-----Original
Message-----<br>From: Henri Naths <<a href="mailto:c_hnaths@telusplanet.net"><a href="mailto:c_hnaths@telusplanet.net">c_hnaths@telusplanet.net</a></a>><br>To:
<a href="mailto:Gasification@bioenergylists.org"><a href="mailto:Gasification@bioenergylists.org">Gasification@bioenergylists.org</a></a><br>Sent:
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 1:54 pm<br>Subject: [Gasification] 300 Megawatt Power
Plant<br><br>
</font><div id="AOLMsgPart_4_7913b0fd-77bd-4e50-bc36-6402fae19eb6"><font color="black" size="2" face="arial">
</font><div><font color="black" size="2" face="arial"><font size="2" face="Arial">
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,69,0); TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="FONT-SIZE: x-large; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><font size="2"></font></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Dear list
and all</span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I believe
there some techincal issues involved with this gasification process.
All comments are appreciated.</span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Thanks
</span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Henri
</span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,69,0); TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="FONT-SIZE: x-large; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><strong> </strong></span></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,69,0); TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="FONT-SIZE: x-large" class="Apple-style-span"><font size="2">$1.5
Billion</font></span></span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: large" class="Apple-style-span"> </span></font></font></span></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-SIZE: large" class="Apple-style-span"><font size="2">Swan Hills Synfuels
Project</font></span></span></span></div> </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">was announced by the Alberta
Government. This project will manufacture clean synthetic gas
from </span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><span class="goog_qs-tidbit-0">deep coal deposits to fuel a new </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="goog_qs-tidbit-0">300 Megawatt Power
Plant </span></span><span class="goog_qs-tidbit-0">to be built at
Whitecourt. This transformative project</span></span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><span class="goog_qs-tidbit-0"> is a whole new way to generate clean</span>
electricity, using Alberta's vast, deep stranded coal
reserves. </span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" class="Apple-style-span"><font size="2"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Whitecourt will have the Province's first clean
power source !</span><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In July 2010 Town
Council approved the next 20 acre Phase of the Hilltop Industrial
area. Infrastructure work will commence immediately in order to have
lots available for early spring 2011 to support the growth form the above
project. In addition Pembina Pipelines announced the final approval of
their NIPISI & MITSUE pipeline projects in the Judy Creek area.
They are expected to provide 1,000 short term construction jobs.
</span></font></span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"></span></span> </div>
<div align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14pt" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><font size="2">In situ
coal is converted into a gas by piping saline water and pure oxygen down an
injection well. </font></span></span></div>
</font></font><div class="Body" align="left"><font color="black" size="2" face="arial"><font size="2" face="Arial"><font size="2">The resulting combustion, plus the
steam created by it, converts the coal into gas that flows up a production
well to a surface gas-separation plant. </font>
</font><div class="Body" align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial"><font size="2">The project will drill about 20
pairs of injection and production wells. </font>
</font><div class="Body" align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial"><font size="2">“The gas is taken to a plant where
the CO2 is removed,” said Shaigec. (managing director for Swanhills Synfuels
)</font>
</font><div class="Body" align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial"><font size="2">“We then have finished syngas, that
is dispatched to a pipeline and then to the generator.” </font>
<div class="Body" align="left"><font size="2">This low-carbon gas will be used to
fuel a new 300 MW power plant to be built near Whitecourt, Alberta.
</font></div>
<h2><font size="2">Gasification History</font></h2>
<div><font size="2">Gasification was first developed in the 1800s and has been
used commercially throughout the world for more than 100 years. A variety of
industries have utilized the technology including chemical production,
fertilizer manufacturing, and electrical power generation. Today, the
majority of the operating gasification plants worldwide are surface
gasification plants designed to produce chemicals, fuels, electricity, and
fertilizers.</font></div>
<h2><font size="2">Gasification Market</font></h2>
<div><font size="2">As of 2008, there were 420 gasifiers at 140 facilities in
operation globally, the majority of these being surface gasification plants
(source – GTC). World gasification capacity is projected to grow by more
than 70% by 2015 with much of the growth occurring in Asia (source – GTC). A
number of factors contribute to a growing interest in gasification,
including volatile oil and natural gas prices, more stringent environmental
regulations, and a growing consensus that CO<sub>2</sub> management should
be required in power generation and energy production.</font></div>
<h2><font size="2">How does Gasification work?</font></h2>
<div><font size="2">Feedstock (for ISCG it is deep coal) is exposed to high
temperature and high pressure. In the presence of steam at these conditions
a series of chemical reactions occur which convert the feedstock into
syngas.</font></div>
<div><font size="2">In the case of ISCG, this chemical conversion of the deep
coal happens in place in its original seam. The resultant syngas created
consists primarily of hydrogen, methane, carbon dioxide, and carbon
monoxide.</font></div>
<div><font size="2">To create this chemical conversion, two wells are drilled
into the deep coal seam. A horizontal injection well is used to introduce
oxygen and water into the seam; the oxygen supports a limited and controlled
amount of combustion, raising the temperature of the coal and boiling the
water to generate steam.</font></div>
<div><font size="2">The naturally existing deep underground pressure, along
with the elevated coal temperature and the presence of steam, together form
the right conditions to gasify the coal. The vertical production well is
used to conduct the raw syngas to the surface. Char and ash, which are
remnants of the original coal, remain deep underground.</font></div>
<div><font size="2">Figure 1. ISCG Well Pair Schematic<br></font><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-290" title="img_iscg_diagram" alt="" src="http://swanhills-synfuels.com/wp-content/media/img_iscg_diagram.png" width="380" height="372"></div>
<div><font size="2">The coal seam for ISCG development at the Swan Hills
Synfuels site is 1400 m beneath the surface, approximately 800 m below the
Base of Groundwater Protection (depth limit of fresh groundwater – below
this depth, groundwater is saline), eliminating potential for fresh
groundwater contamination. Saline water is used for injection into the coal
seam through the horizontal well, virtually eliminating the need for fresh
water in the ISCG process. </font></div></font></div></div>
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