Context:
Recently Cabinet approved ₹8500 crore incentive scheme for coal gasification projects.
Coal Gasification:
- Process of producing syngas
- Method – coal is partially oxidised by air, oxygen, steam, or carbon dioxide under controlled conditions to produce a liquid fuel.
- Methods of Coal Gasification
- In-situ method: oxygen is infused into seam together with water and ignited.
- Ex-situ reactors: to simulate the process above the ground’s surface.
- Advantage – reduce India’s reliance on imports of natural gas, methanol, ammonia etc.
- Uses-
- Primary use – coal gases are first purified before being in gas turbines.
- Secondary use – gas turbine exhaust heat is collected and used to produce steam for a steam turbine-generator.
- Government missions-
- National Coal Gasification Mission
- SHAKTI policy
Coal
- Combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock
- Composed of carbon, along with various other elements and impurities.
- Formed from the remains of plants died long ago through chemical and physical changes
- Types of coal found in India-
- Anthracite: highest grade, hard and brittle, black colour and found in smaller quantities (Jammu and Kashmir)
- Bituminous: medium grade, high heating capacity, black in colour (Central India to West Bengal)
- Lignite: lowest grade, least carbon content (Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu & Kashmir)
Syngas
- Called synthesis gas
- Combustible gas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
- Produced from carbonaceous feedstocks.
- Uses – power generation and to make methanol.
National Coal Gasification Mission
- Under Ministry of Coal
- Aim – achieve 100 metric tonnes of coal gasification by the year 2030
Read more about: Green Hydrogen | National Hydrogen Mission
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.
2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete.
3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Fly ash is made up of aluminium silicate, silicon dioxide, calcium oxide and contain toxic elements.
