The syngas produced from coal is also used as a source of hydrogen for the manufacture of ammonia or hydrogenation applications in refineries. The conversion of coal to electricity, via such an intermediate gaseous product is achieved by employing Agni’s Integrated Fuel Cell Engine (IFCE)- an integration of gasification, fuel processing and reforming, internal combustion technology with heat recovery and fuel cells.

The gases exiting the gasification stage are at high temperature and suitable for reforming, however the impurities contained must be first removed. The impurities are removed by a fuel processor, and in the process, converts impurities into useful hydrogen. There are several stages to this process, and the hydrogen recovered at the final stage is purified to 99.99% and used to power the fuel cell. Heat recovered from the internal combustion technology is used to augment preheating pre heating at the gasification stage. An Agni IFCE power generation system with coal gasification can be designed to deliver in excess of electrical efficiency and in excess of 90% energy efficiency.

Gasification, in present circumstance of high oil prices may in fact, be one of the best ways to produce clean-burning hydrogen for tomorrow's automobiles and power-generating fuel cells. Hydrogen and other coal gases can be used to fuel Agni’s Integrated Fuel Cell Engine or as the chemical "building blocks" for a wide range of commercial products.

Coal Gasification Picture