Evolution of Tars and Gases During Devolatilization of Coal in a Fixed Bed Reactor

摘要

Devolatilization of a subbituminous coal has been investigated in a laboratory fixed bed gasifier, by contacting the coal with a reactive gas mixture similar to that entering the devolatilization zone of a commercial gasifier. Two particle sizes of feed coal PSOC-241 (-2,+1 and -4,+3 mm) at a single reactor pressure (30 psig) were evaluated, in the temperature range 350 to 550 C. The tars evolved were characterized by capillary gas chromatography and gel permeation chromatography. The tar and gas evolutions are described in terms of concentration and pressure profiles, through considerations involving diffusion and pore structure. The overall devolatilization rates are evaluated through the unreacted shrinking core model. 11 references, 18 figures, 3 tables. (ERA citation 10:019668)