Performance prediction and evaluation of sulcis coal gasification

In this paper a pararnetritc study of sulcis coal gasiflcation has been carried out In order to evaluate the influence of the main functlonal and operating pararneters on the gaslfication plant performances. The study has been performed by means of a generai simulatlon model discussed in previous papers. It allows for predictlng the performances of coal (and other low-grade solid and liquld fuel) gaslflcation plants, based on entralied, fluidlzed and flxed bed processes, with reasonable accuracy and flexibility, as required for prellminary studies, feasibility analysis and optimlzatlon tasks. The paper flrstly analyses, independently from the gaslficatlon process and from the gaslfter technology, the effects of pressure, temperature, oxidant composltion, oxygen-to-coal and water-to-coal mass ratios on the fuel gas composltlon, on lts relevant heatlng value, and on the maln energy performances of the gaslficatlon plant. The paper also discusses some peculiar performances of entrained, fluidized and fixed bed gasifiers and some related criteria for selecting and optimizing the main gasification pararneters.