2. Technological challenges

Since the industrial deployment of gasification in the 1920s, a large number of different processes have been developed. The most robust technologies (atmospheric pressure, use of air as oxidizer) were used to supply either the chemical industry or lighting gas networks, which have since been replaced by natural gas, and are described in the first edition of the Coal Gasification dossier [J 5 410] . Here, we describe only those modern technologies that can achieve the capacities and performance required to power certain power plants (IGCC Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle ), synthetic fuel production units (CTL Coal to Liquid ) and hydrogen and methanol production units. Fundamentally based on the same principles, these gasifiers differ significantly in the technological solutions they provide to a number...