Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Research Group

The research of the fossil fuels group focuses on clean coal research for electricity generation, hydrogen production, petrochemicals, chemical feedstock, liquid transport, gas production etc. Our research thesis is that clean fossil fuels, particularly underground coal gasification combined with carbon capture and storage (UCG-CCS) could act as a credible bridge to a renewable energy future.

We undertake fundamental and applied research in the area of surface and underground coal gasification. To fully understand the processes and mechanisms, our research is investigating reaction kinetics, fluid dynamics and transport phenomena, numerical and mathematical modelling of UCG-CCS processes, syngas analysis and clean-up and underground geology together with environmental impact assessment of these processes.

Research interests

Our research activities are focussed in the following areas:

  • Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) processes and monitoring
  • Environmental impact assessment of UCG and environmental implications of storing supercritical CO2 in UCG coal seam voids.
  • Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
  • Coal chemistry/characterisation and gasification/IGCC
  • Mathematical and numerical modelling of UCG-CCS processes.
  • Syngas clean-up processes

Current projects

  • Project Ramsay: A feasibility study and assessment of the business case for commercial scale underground coal gasification (UCG) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) operation in the North East England.
  • Environmental implications of storing supercritical CO2 in UCG coal seam voids.
  • Process Control in Underground Coal Gasification.

Recent Publications

  • Roddy DJ (ed). Advanced Power Plant Materials, Design and Technology, Woodhead Publishing Ltd, 2010.
  • Roddy DJ and Younger PL. Underground Coal Gasification with CCS: A Pathway to decarbonising Industry, The Royal Society of Chemistry publication.
  • Mudashiru LK. and Roddy DJ. Project Ramsay: Potential for Underground Coal Gasification with Carbon Capture and Storage (UCG-CCS) in North East England, UK. Proceedings of the International Pittsburgh Conference 2009.
  • Younger PL, Roddy DJ and Gonzalez G. King Coal: Restoring the monarchy by underground coal gasification coupled to CSS. In: Seventh Petroleum Geology Conference 2009.
  • Roddy DJ and Gonzalez G. Underground coal gasification with CCS. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2009.
  • Roddy, DJ. Development of affordable, low carbon hydrogen supplies at an industrial scale. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society 2008, 28(2), 138-142.  http://bst.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/28/2/138

Affiliations

  • Underground Coal Gasification Partnership (UCGP)
  • Progressive Energy
  • Coal India
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA.