Summary

Coal, still used to generate more than half of the electric power in the U.S., will likely be part of any future global energy plan. But this finite resource is also responsible for 80 percent of the CO2 emissions from power production, and its continued use will require improved processing techniques that are less damaging to the environment and less costly. One viable option is the use of "clean coal" energy conversion devices that rely on the combustion of gasified coal, referred to as synthesis gas, or syngas.

Synthesis Gas Combustion: Fundamentals and Applications presents work from leading combustion authorities who offer their perspectives on various energy and environmental issues linked to the development of syngas and hydrogen combustion. This volume summarizes the current understanding of syngas, focusing first on combustion fundamentals and then on issues specific to application and utilization in fuel cells, internal combustion engines, and steady-flowing combustion devices such as gas turbines or boilers. In discussing syngas production, this book details the technical issues and trade-offs that influence fuel composition. It also explores combustion fundamentals of "clean coal" technologies, including chemical kinetics, flame properties, and emissions.

Governments and companies around the world are devoting significant resources to improve understanding of the combustion of coal and bio-derived synthesis gases, to maximize the benefits of gasification technology and limit CO2 emissions. This valuable reference provides state-of-the-art context and technical information needed to develop clean energy systems. These include clean coal technologies, hydrogen and liquid fuel production, use of biomass feedstocks, and usage in fuel cells and other advanced power generation technologies.