Extraction of nuclear fuels from coal using microwave induced plasma gasification and electromagnetic plasma separation processes

Raghav Kumar, Philip K. Panicker

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Coal is till today the most commonly used fuel worldwide for electricity generation, with the largest consumers being China, USA and India respectively. Coal contains small amounts of radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium, potassium-40, radium and radon, in the range of a few parts per million, which make their removal difficult and economically unfeasible through conventional industrial technologies. The concentrations gets amplified in the coal ash (fly ash), thereby presenting environmental and human health risks. In this preliminary paper, we propose an innovative clean coal technology, namely microwave induced plasma gasification (MIPG) to turn coal into syngas, while the molten residue is sent to a microwave-heated electromagnetic plasma separator for isolation of radioactive elements. With the adoption of this technology, coal producing and consuming nations will be able to satisfy a large portion of their nuclear fuel requirements from clean coal.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2017 IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid and Smart Cities, ICSGSC 2017
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages22-27
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781538605042
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 14 2017
Event2017 IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid and Smart Cities, ICSGSC 2017 - Singapore, Singapore
Duration: Jul 23 2017Jul 26 2017

Publication series

Name2017 IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid and Smart Cities, ICSGSC 2017

Other

Other2017 IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid and Smart Cities, ICSGSC 2017
Country/TerritorySingapore
CitySingapore
Period7/23/177/26/17

Keywords

  • clean coal
  • microwave
  • plasma gasification
  • plasma separation
  • radioactivity in coal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Urban Studies

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