Vinod Kumar Saxena

Synthesis and characterization of a new polymeric surfactant for chemical enhanced oil recovery

Chemical enhanced oil recovery methods are field proven techniques that improve efficiency and effectiveness of oil recovery. We have synthesized polymeric surfactant from vegetable oil (castor oil) for application in chemical enhanced oil recovery. First, an eco-friendly surfactant, sodium methyl ester sulfonate (SMES) was synthesized from castor oil, and then the polymeric surfactant (PMES) was produced by graft co-polymerization reaction using different surfactant to acrylamide ratios. The synthesized PMES was characterized by FTIR, FE-SEM, EDX, TGA, DLS analysis. The performance of PMES as a chemical agent for enhanced oil recovery was studied by measuring the interfacial tension (IFT) between crude oil and PMES solution, rheological behavior and contact angle against sandstone surface. Addition of sodium chloride in PMES solution reduced the IFT to an ultra-low value (2.0×10-3mN/m). Core flooding experiments were conducted in sandpack system, and 26.5%, 27.8% and 29.1% additional recovery of original oil in place (OOIP) was obtained for 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7mass% of PMES solutions, respectively, after conventional water flooding.

Prospective evaluation of coal bed methane in Raniganj coal field, India

ABSTRACT The methane generation potential, methane sorption capacity, maturity, and petrographic study of 12 borehole samples from Raniganj coal field, India were determined. Petrographic, proximate, and ultimate analysis indicates that the all samples are matured. Adsorption isotherm and in-situ gas content analysis reveals that samples have excellent storage capacity (17.98–29.55 m3/t) and methane generation potential. Microscopic studies (FESEM and FTIR) of coal samples show well-developed pores, cleat system, and presence of aromatic H and aliphatic H. The simulation study shows that 17.68 Mm3 methane production can be possible in 10 years. The overall studies conclude that the Raniganj coal seams to have sufficient potential for coal bed methane extraction.

Effect of Indian Medium Coking Coal on Coke Quality in Non-recovery Stamp Charged Coke Oven

The maximum possibility of utilizing the Indian coking coals and inferior grade coking coal for producing metalurgical coke through non Grecovery stamp charging technology was investigated. Indian indigenous coals contained low percent of vitrinite (<50%) and higher content of ash (> 15%) compared to imported coking coal. Therefore, the selection of appropriate proportion of diferent types of coals was a major chalenge for coke makers. Coal blend selection criterion based on a single coeficient, named as composite coking potential (CCP), was develG oped. The use of increased proportion of semisoft coal (crucible sweling number of 2. 5) and high ash (≥15%) indigenous coal in the range of 20%–35% and 20%–65% respectively in the blends resulted in good quality of coke. Plant data of a nonGrecovery coke oven were used for developing and validating the model. The results showed that the coke strength after reaction (CSR) varied in the range of 63.7%–67.7% and the M40 value was between 81.8 and 89.3 in both the cases.

Characterization and application of methylcellulose and potato starch blended films in controlled release of urea

Abstract Biodegradable blended films from methylcellulose (MC) and potato starch (PST) have been developed by the casting process. In the present work the influences of concentrations of MC and PST on rheological properties, swelling, mechanical properties such as tensile strength, percentage elongation at break and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the prepared blended films have been studied. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of pure MC, PST, their mixture and the mixture with glutaraldehyde and urea was performed to investigate the interactions in blended films. The blended films of MC and PST showed an increase in tensile strength due to the cross linking reactions of the amylopectin molecule of PST in the physical gel state. The change of percentage elongation at break increased with MC concentration and the opposite trend was found in the case of the WVTR due to the network structure of the blended films. The blended films showed a large improvement in the abovementioned properties compared with each single component, due to the interaction formed between hydroxyl groups of PST and the methoxy groups of MC. Experiments were also conducted to investigate the controlled urea release through blended films and the kinetics of the process. Interesting results were found with the prepared MC and PST blended films.

Artificial Neural Network Modeling of Ball Mill Grinding Process

Grinding consumes around 2% of the energy produced in the world but existing methods of milling are very inefficient and use only 5% of the input energy for real size reduction rest is consumed by machine itself. Chrome ores are comminute, filtered, pelletized and sintered to use into submerged arc furnace for ferrochrome production. Variation in ore properties affects the particle size distribution during milling. Artificial neural network based model is developed to predict the particle size distribution of ball mill product using grinding data available for difference in grindability of Sukinda chromite ores. Input variables for model were ball size, ball load, ball-ore ratio, grinding time. Output was particle size distribution (+75 μm, -75 μm, +38 μm; -38 μm). Three different kinds of mathematical models have been compared to predict the particle size distribution. Finally a neural network based model was found most accurate. Dynamic artificial neural network model does not require any material constant and optimizes the mathematical correlation with better accuracy in a dynamic process. This methodology can be used to develop an online system to predict the ball mill performance to improve the performance of grinding circuit in mineral, metal and cement industry.

Physicochemical study of coal for CBM extraction in Raniganj coal field, India

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study is to assess the coal quality, petrographic composition, methane generation potential, maturity, and depositional environment of 12 samples from Raniganj coal field, India. The Rock-Eval pyrolysis and total organic carbon analysis suggest the presence of a mixture of Type III-II and Type III kerogen and have excellent gas generation potential. Petrographic and field emission scanning electron microscopy study shows the presence of vitrinite prosperous coal with different pores and fracture systems. The FTIR spectrum of samples suggests that the presence of aromatic H is helpful in gas generation. The Krevelen diagram shows that the samples lie in the Type-III kerogen.

Source rock evaluation of the Gondwana coals in Raniganj coalfield, India

ABSTRACT Present study perceived that samples have excellent hydrocarbon generation potential and total organic carbon (TOC) content. The pyrolysis temperature (Tmax) indicates that samples are in immature stage (<435°C) for hydrocarbon generation. The hydrogen index (HI) values show that the sample lies in a mixture of Type II–III and Type III kerogen. The plot of HI versus TOC implies that samples fall in fair oil source or gas/oil field. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electron dispersive X-ray (EDX) study reveals that the different micro/macro pores and fracture system present mostly in organic substance. In situ gas content values are high enough to produce methane from coal beds.

Characterization and Utilization of Organo-Refined Extract in Metallurgical Coke Making

ABSTRACT High-ash Indian coals and washery discards were extracted using an organic solvent. Complete characterization study was carried out in order to measure its coking potential. The study revealed that swelling and thermoplastic properties of the extracts are better as compared to the parent coals. A new concept for studying the thermoplastic behavior of coal is introduced to access the coking potential of parent and extracted coal. A series of carbonization tests was performed considering organic extracts as one of the blend components. The carbonization study reflects that the addition of an optimum amount of extracts in the base-coal blends helped in improving the properties of metallurgical coke.

Assessment of spontaneous heating susceptibility of Indian coals—A new approach

Abstract The article enumerates a new electro-chemical method, viz. wet oxidation potential technique for assessing the susceptibility of coal to spontaneous combustion. In the present investigation, 600 experiments with 50 coal samples collected from fiery and non-fiery seams covering different geographical locations in India were carried out. Physicochemical characteristics of coal like moisture, volatile matter, oxygen, and hydrogen contents have been correlated with the results of wet oxidation potential method carried out at different experimental conditions. Analysis of the results indicates that the experiments of the wet oxidation potential method should be carried out with 0.2N KMnO4 solution in 1N KOH at 45°C to achieve optimum results. Results of this method are corroborating with field observations and also give good correlation with results obtained from the crossing point temperature method.

Industrial perspective of the cokemaking technologies

Abstract The operational efficiency of a coke plant depends on three vital aspects: first, the produced coke should meet the quality standards required for the use of modern blast furnaces; second, the environmental consideration; and third, the cost of the coke. This has become progressively important due to the cost competitiveness of the iron and steel industry, which has become the key to survival. Therefore, the production of coke with optimal cost by adequate selection of cokemaking technology and the optimization of coal blend cost and operating parameters are the most important tasks for cokemakers. This chapter describes an overview of cokemaking technologies, fundamental aspects of carbonization, coal-blending practice in cokemaking with practical experience, and the influence of operating parameters and environmental regulations. A brief review of conventional by-product coke ovens is also part of this chapter.