Abstract
Based on the mass fraction size distribution of aluminum (Al), an improved method for effectively identifying the modes of particulate matter from pulverized coal combustion is proposed in this study. It is found that the particle size distributions of coal-derived particulate matter actually have three modes, rather than just mere two. The ultrafine mode is mainly generated through the vaporization and condensation processes. The coarse mode is primarily formed by the coalescence of molten minerals, while the newly-found central mode is attributed to the heterogeneous condensation or adsorption of vaporized species on fine residual ash particles. The detailed investigation of the mass fraction size distribution of sulfur (S) further demonstrates the rationality and effectiveness of the mass fraction size distribution of the Al in identifying three particle modes. The results show that not only can the number of particle modes be identified in the mass fraction size distributions of the Al but also can their size boundaries be more accurately defined. This method provides new insights in elucidating particle formation mechanisms and their physico-chemical characteristics.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hinds W C. Aerosol Technology: Properties, Behavior, and Measurement of Airborne Particles. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1982
Sarofim A F, Howard J B, Padia A S. Physical transformation of the mineral matter in pulverized coal under simulated combustion conditions. Combust Sci Tech, 1977, 16(3–6): 187–204
Flagan R C, Friedlander S K. Particle formation in pulverized coal combustion: A review. In: Shaw D T, ed. Recent Developments in Aerosol Science. New York: Wiley-Interscience, 1978. 25–59
Neville M, Quann R J, Haynes B S, et al. Vaporization and condensation of mineral matter during pulverized coal combustion. P Combust Inst, 1981, 18: 1267–1274
McElroy M W, Carr R C, Ensor D S, et al. Size distribution of fine particles from coal combustion. Science, 1982, 215(4528): 13–19
Kang S G. Fundamental studies of mineral matter transformation during pulverized coal combustion: Residual ash formation. Ph.D. Thesis. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991
Linak W P, Peterson T W. Effect of coal type and residence time on the submicron aerosol distribution from pulverized coal combustion. Aerosol Sci Tech, 1984, 3(1): 77–95
Linak W P, Miller C A, Wendt J O L. Comparison of particle size distributions and elemental partitioning from the combustion of pulverized coal and residual fuel oil. J Air Waste Manage, 2000, 50(8): 1532–1544
Linak W P, Miller C A, Seames W S, et al. On trimodal particle size distributions in fly ash from pulverized-coal combustion. P Combust Inst, 2002, 29: 441–447
Seames W S. An initial study of the fine fragmentation fly ash particle mode generated during pulverized coal combustion. Fuel Process Tech, 2003, 81(2): 109–125
Yu D, Xu M, Yao H, et al. Use of elemental size distributions in identifying particle formation modes. P Combust Inst, 2007, 31(2): 1921–1928
Kauppinen E I, Pakkanen T A. Coal combustion aerosols: A field study. Environ Sci Tech, 1990, 24(12): 1811–1818
Quann R J, Neville M, Janghorbani M, et al. Mineral matter and trace-element vaporization in a laboratory-pulverized coal combustion system. Environ Sci Tech, 1982, 16(11): 776–781
Wigley F, Williamson J. Modelling fly ash generation for pulverised coal combustion. Prog Energ Combust, 1998, 24(4): 337–343
Smith R D, Campbell J A, Nielson K K. Characterization and formation of submicron particles in coal-fired plants. Atmos Environ, 1979, 13(5): 607–617
Quann R J, Sarofim A F. Vaporization of refractory oxides during pulverized coal combustion. P Combust Inst, 1982, 19: 1429–1440
Brewer L. The thermodynamic properties of the oxides and their vaporization processes. Chem Rev, 1953, 52(1): 1–75
Flagan R C. Submicron particles from coal combustion. P Combust Inst, 1979, 17: 97–104
Helble J J, Sarofim A F. Factors determining the primary particle size of flame-generated inorganic aerosols. J Colloid Interf Sci, 1989, 128(2): 348–362
Ramsden A R. A microscopic investigation into the formation of fly-ash during the combustion of a pulverized bituminous coal. Fuel, 1969, 48(2): 121–137
Kang S G, Heble J J, Sarofim A F, et al. Time-resolved evolution of fly ash during pulverized coal combustion. P Combust Inst, 1988, 22: 231–238
Kang S G, Kerstein A R, Helble J J, et al. Simulation of residual ash formation during pulverized coal combustion: Bimodal ash particle size distribution. Aerosol Sci Tech, 1990, 13(4): 401–412
Davison R L, Natusch D F S, Wallace J R, et al. Trace elements in fly ash: Dependence of concentration on particle size. Environ Sci Tech, 1974, 8(13): 1107–1113
Campbell J A, Laul J C, Nielson K K, et al. Separation and chemical characterization of finely-sized fly-ash particles. Anal Chem, 1978, 50(8): 1032–1040
Helble J J, Sarofim A F. Influence of char fragmentation on ash particle size distributions. Combust Flame, 1989, 76(2): 183–196
Baxter L L. Char fragmentation and fly ash formation during pulverized-coal combustion. Combust Flame, 1992, 90(2): 174–184
Liu G, Wu H, Gupta R P, et al. Modeling the fragmentation of non-uniform porous char particles during pulverized coal combustion. Fuel, 2000, 79(6): 627–633
Holve D J. In situ measurements of flyash formation from pulverized coal. Combust Sci Tech, 1986, 44(5–6): 269–288
Sadakata M, Mochizuki M, Sakai T, et al. Formation and behavior of submicron fly ash in pulverized coal combustion furnace. Combust Flame, 1988, 74(1): 71–80
Joutsensaari J, Kauppinen E I, Ahonen P, et al. Aerosol formation in real scale pulverized coal combustion. J Aerosol Sci, 1992, 23: 241–244
Seames W S, Fernandez A, Wendt J O L. A study of fine particulate emissions from combustion of treated pulverized municipal sewage sludge. Environ Sci Tech, 2002, 36(12): 2772–2776
Graham K A, Sarofim A F. Inorganic aerosols and their role in catalyzing sulfuric acid production in furnaces. J Air Waste Manage, 1998, 48(2): 106–112
McNallen M J, Yurek G J, Elliot J F. The formation of inorganic particulates by homogeneous nucleation in gases produced by the combustion of coal. Combust Flame, 1981, 42: 45–60
Graham K A. Submicron ash formation and interaction with sulfur oxides during pulverized coal combustion. Ph.D. Thesis. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990
Amdur M O, Sarofim A F, Neville M, et al. Coal combustion aerosols and sulfur dioxide: An interdisciplinary analysis. Environ Sci Tech, 1986, 20(2): 138–145
Erickson T A, Ludlow D K, Benson S A. Interaction of sodium, sulfur, and silica during coal combustion. Energ Fuel, 1991, 5(4): 539–547
Raask E. Sulphate capture in ash and boiler deposits in relation to SO2 emission. Prog Energ Combust, 1982, 8(4): 261–276
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50325621, 50721005 & 50706013)
About this article
Cite this article
Yu, D., Xu, M., Yao, H. et al. Effective identification of the three particle modes generated during pulverized coal combustion. Chin. Sci. Bull. 53, 1593–1602 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0192-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0192-x