Electrical induction heating: A new approach to underground coal gasification

Abstract

Coal has a high eddy-current loss, and thus absorbs energy efficiently from an intense magnetic field. This principle can be used to distill high-heat-value gas and tar from a coal deposit. Subsequently, the residual char may be gasified by combustion heating. The overall process shows significant advantages over present methods of underground coal gasification by combustion. Available physical and chemical data and laboratory investigations indicate the technical and economic feasibility of the process.