Title: Energetic and exergetic performance assessment of some coals in Turkey for gasification process

Authors: Murat Ozturk, Nuri Ozek, Yunus Emre Yuksel

Addresses: Faculty of Art and Sciences, Department of Physics, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260 Isparta, Turkey. ' Faculty of Art and Sciences, Department of Physics, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260 Isparta, Turkey. ' Faculty of Art and Sciences, Department of Physics, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260 Isparta, Turkey

Abstract: This paper undertakes a study on energetic and exergetic performance evaluation of various types of coals in Turkey, such as Armutcuk, Amasra, Zonguldak and Catalagzy hard coals and Tuncbilek, Beypazari, Cayirhan, Afsin, Soma, Yatagan, Can and Sorgun lignites for gasification purposes, where syn-gas may subsequently be used for the production of electricity, heat, hydrogen, etc. in industry. The chemical exergy contents of these coals are determined and compared for a potential use in gasification, and their energetic and exergetic efficiencies are also assessed for performance comparison. In the analysis, exergetic efficiencies are evaluated for an idealised gasifier in which chemical equilibrium is reached, ashes of coals are not considered and heat losses are neglected. It is observed that coals having lower heating value have higher gasification efficiency, and the ratios of hydrogen to chemical exergy of coal are related to the gasification process efficiencies of this coal.

Keywords: coal gasification; chemical exergy; energy efficiency; performance evaluation; exergy efficiency; Turkey; hard coals; lignites; heating values; hydrogen.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2011.039792

International Journal of Exergy, 2011 Vol.8 No.3, pp.297 - 309

Received: 26 Nov 2009
Accepted: 13 Jul 2010
Published online: 20 Apr 2011 *

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