|
A wonderful example of the unbounded middle.
In situ coal gasification is a perfectly respectable method of
converting coal into city gas by forcing oxygen and steam into a coal
seam and setting it alight; causing the coal to burn and reduce into
methane and other usable gases. It's shown promise and has even
been exploited on a small scale on occasion, though it has had some
problems in being scaled up. But that didn't stop prophets of
the 1950s from turning this into the ultimate in energy self
sufficiency in the 21st century. Worried about
dwindling natural gas reserves and dependence on imports? No
problem! Just sink a shaft into a convenient coal seam near your
city (There's always one close by, right?), hook up the inlet and
outlet pipes, drop a thermite bomb, slam the hatch fast, and voila!
Gas just flows out unbidden as from an energy cornucopia; as neat and
tidy as any technophile would wish.
Just try to avoid reading any stories of the
Centralia,
Penn. coal mine fire. |
