Alain Brasseur

Results of the tracer tests during the El Tremedal underground coal gasification at great depth

During the underground coal gasification (UCG) experiments at Alcorisa, Spain, a series of helium tracer tests were carried out to follow the underground cavity growth. The volume of the cavity increases progressively with the cumulated quantity of oxygen injected. Models based on exchange of matter between the flowing fluid and a transverse dead zone were used. Results indicate that the gasifier behaves almost like a small number of stirred tanks in series with a high level of back mixing.

Carbon stable isotope analysis as a tool for tracing temperature during the El Tremedal underground coal gasification at great depth

Abstract The new opportunity given by the underground gasifier developed at Alcorisa in Spain (Province of Teruel) in the framework of an European experiment has promoted a better understanding of gasification in a natural reactor. The thermodynamical equilibria of gasification reactions and the repartition of the stable isotopes of carbon (13C/12C) in the produced gases have been used to monitor the process. An estimation of the temperatures inside the gasifier and at the exhaust has been performed. As shown by the isotopic balances, the tar formation is negligible or null and the pyrolysis zone spreads continuously. The study has confirmed the reality of the 13C isotopic abundance measurements for the system CO/CO2 as an indicator of the temperature inside the gasifier. During the gasifier expansion, the temperature at the exhaust decreases whereas the temperature inside the gasifier is practically constant showing a slight increasing trend. As pointed out by the data, the oxygen enrichment of the gasifying agent plays an important role on the estimated temperatures.

Rheological characterization of the BaTiO3 sol–gel transition

BaTiO3 gels were prepared by hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions between titanium isopropoxide and barium hydroxide in presence of methoxyethanol, methanol and water. The rheology of the sol-gel transition was studied with a rheometer allowing low amplitude sinusoidal oscillations. Experimental data show a continuous increase in the complex viscosity along with time, showing the progressive character of the transition. The influence of synthesis operating variables was studied. The gelation time, which definition is based on viscoelastic measurements, increases exponentially when the water content is increased, when the dilution due to the methoxyethanol is reduced or when the temperature is lowered. Different growth models were used for the characterization of the particles in the solution. These models suggest that the polymerisation first produces spherical particles (mass fractals) and that these spherical particles then agglomerate to form a linear network.

Rheological characterization of BaTiO3 sol-gel transition

BaTiO3 gels were prepared by hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions between titanium isopropoxide and barium hydroxide in presence of methoxyethanol, methanol and water. The rheology of the sol-gel transition was studied with a rheometer allowing low amplitude sinusoidal oscillations. Experimental data show a continuous increase in the complex viscosity along with time, showing the progressive character of the transition. The influence of synthesis operating variables was studied. The gelation time, which definition is based on viscoelastic measurements, increases exponentially when the water content is increased, when the dilution due to the methoxyethanol is reduced or when the temperature is lowered. Different growth models were used for the characterization of the particles in the solution. These models suggest that the polymerisation first produces spherical particles (mass fractals) and that these spherical particles then agglomerate to form a linear network.

Is it possible to obtain a coherent image of the texture of a porous material

This study consists in verifying the coherence of a few commonly used analysis methods of nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. These methods were tested on model samples obtained by mechanically mixing two micro- and mesoporous solids respectively with known mass proportions. Although the individual analysis methods may lead to discrepancies in the interpretation of the isotherms, their systematic comparison allows drawing a coherent picture of the porous texture.

A Gas Chromatographic Separation for the H and C Stable Isotope Ratio Determination of Coal Compounds

A new, completely automated gas chromatography technique has been developed to separate the different gaseous compounds produced during underground coal gasification for their (13)C/(12)C and D/H isotope ratio measurements. The technique was designed for separation and collection of H(2), CO, CO(2), H(2)O, H(2)S, CH(4), and heavier hydrocarbons. These gaseous compounds are perfectly separated by the gas-phase chromatograph and quantitatively sent to seven combustion and collection lines. H(2), CO, CH(4), and heavier hydrocarbons are quantitatively oxidized to CO(2) and/or H(2)O. The isotopic analyses are performed by the sealed-tube method. The zinc method is used for reduction of both water and H(2)S to hydrogen for D/H analysis. Including all preparation steps, the reproducibility of isotope abundance values, for a quantity higher than or equal to 0.1 mL of individual components in a mixture (5 mL of gases being initially injected in the gas chromatograph), is ±0.1‰ for δ(13)C(PDB) and ±6‰ for δD(SMOW).