Generating electricity from coal in situ
AssigneeIn Situ Technology, Inc.
InventorRuel C. Terry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The system of the invention comprises a two well system of gasifying coal in situ wherein the generated gas stream is directed to a gas separator, which, in turn separates hydrogen and carbon monoxide into separate streams. Hydrogen is directed to one type of fuel cell and carbon dioxide is directed to another with the resultant generation of electricity. The method of the invention comprises establishing two wells into an underground coal deposit with a reaction zone in fluid communication with the wells. Coal is gasified both in oxidizing and reducing environments, with the produced gas stream separated into its component parts. Combustible gases are directed to fuel cells with the resultant generation of electricity.
Claims8
A method of generating electricity from fuel derived by producing coal in situ utilizing fuel cells, comprising the steps of
- drilling a first well from the surface of the ground into an underground coal formation,
- drilling a second well from the surface of the ground into the coal formation, the second well being spaced apart from the first well,
- establishing a communication passage through the underground coal in fluid communication between the first well and the second well,
- igniting the coal in the communication passage,
- establishing a reaction zone in the communication passage,
- withdrawing low BTU gas from the reaction zone,
- establishing an above ground gas separator, the gas separator being capable of separating the low BTU gas into discrete component streams consisting of H.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2 O, CO.sub.2 and a mixed residual,
- establishing a first fuel cell in an above ground location,
- establishing a source of oxygen in an above ground location,
- injecting low BTU gas from the reaction zone into the above ground gas separator,
- separating the low BTU gas into discrete component streams consisting of H.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2 O, CO.sub.2 and mixed residual,
- withdrawing hydrogen from the gas separator,
- injecting hydrogen into the first fuel cell,
- injecting oxygen into the first fuel cell, and
- generating electricity in the first fuel cell.
A system for generating electricity from coal in situ comprising in combination:
- a first well drilled from the surface of the earth into an underground coal formation, the first well including means for injecting reactants into the coal formation,
- a second well drilled from the surface of the earth into the coal formation, the second well including means for withdrawing fluids from the coal formation,
- a communication means through the underground coal formation, the communication means being in fluid communication with the first well and with the second well,
- a gas separator means for separating from produced gas stream the individual components consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water, carbon dioxide and a mixed residual, the gas separator means being in fluid communication with the second well,
- a first fuel cell capable of generating electricity, the first fuel cell being in fluid communication with the gas separator means, and
- a source of oxygen means in fluid communication with the first fuel cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.