7e. Process Flow

As the flowchart image illustrates, the processes used to turn steam, lignite, and oxygen into products is complex! To begin, lignite coal pieces about 2 inches in diameter are dropped into the main portion of the gasifier. Oxygen and steam are injected below the coal and the three ingredients are heated to about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. As the molecules heat up, they blow apart, creating a stream of raw gas. From that point, the stream of gas is refined into additional products.

The only waste product from the gasification process is ash, which is placed in an environmentally safe clay-lined pit.