Skip to main content

Quantifying the heats of coal devolatilization

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B volume 31, pages 1125–1131 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

An experimental apparatus was developed to measure the thermal properties of coal in order to determine the heats of reactions during devolatilization. Samples were continuously heated from room temperature to 1000 °C at a constant heating rate. Measuring the temperature changes at two selected locations within the sample allowed the calculation of the apparent specific heat and thermal conductivity by employing an inverse numerical technique to solve the heat conduction equation. Five major reaction regions of coal devolatilization were detected: dehydration, transition, resolidification, secondary reactions and contraction reactions. The most complex region was the exothermic resolidification reaction, where coking coals exhibited significant differences from the thermal coals due to higher plasticity. Small endothermic reaction related to tar vaporization also appeared in this region, becoming stronger at higher heating rates. The exothermic contraction reactions ranging between 140 and 250 MJ/m3 appeared above 600 °C as a result of the dehydrogenation and reformation of stronger C-C bonds. The effects of the heating rate within the range of 5°C/min to 100 °C/min were also examined, showing a shift of the reaction peaks to higher temperatures at increased heating rates. The thermal conductivity and diffusivity were almost constant until the decomposition point, rapidly increasing at higher temperatures.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. P.A. Kalson and D.E. Briggs: Proc. of Coal and Coke Series, 28th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conf., Nova Scotia, Oct. 22–25, 1978, Canadian Society of Chemical Engineers, pp. 88–106.

  2. A.T. Ordabaeva, B.T. Ermagambetov, B.K. Kasenov, and E.S. Mustafa: Khimiya Tverdogo Topliva, 1995, vol. 29, pp. 44–46.

    Google Scholar 

  3. J.E. Callanan and K.M. McDermott: Preprints, Fuel Chemistry Division, American Chemical Society, 1987, vol. 32, pp. 237–42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. L.L. Isaacs and E. Tsafantakis: Preprints, Fuel Chemistry Division, American Chemical Society, 1987, vol. 32, pp. 243–49.

    Google Scholar 

  5. E. Melchior and H. Luther: Fuel, 1982, vol. 61, pp. 1071–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. E.I. Vargha-Butler, M.R. Soulard, H.A. Hamza, and A.W. Neumann: Fuel, 1982, vol. 61, pp. 437–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. P.N. Nikolaev, N.I. Kozlova, V.A. Kalinkina, and A.A. Stepanchikov: Coke Chem., 1961, vol. 3, pp. 12–14.

    Google Scholar 

  8. A.A. Agroskin and E.I. Goncharov: Coke Chem., 1965, vol. 11, pp. 16–20.

    Google Scholar 

  9. A.A. Agroskin, E.I. Goncharov, and N.S. Gryaznov: Coke Chem., 1972, vol. 9, pp. 3–5.

    Google Scholar 

  10. V.F. Goroshkin, V.V. Oshovskii, and V.I. Saranchuk: Khimiya Tverdogo Topliva, 1997, vol. 5, pp. 80–85.

    Google Scholar 

  11. W.F. Hemminger and S.M. Sarge: J. Thermal Analysis, 1991, vol. 37, pp. 1455–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. V.V. Hathi and C.M. Sliepcevich: Research Project 368–1, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, Aug. 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. Strezov and J. Herbertson: Iron Steel Inst. Jpn. Int., 1998, vol. 38, pp. 959–66.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. V. Strezov, J. Lucas, S.R. Osborn, and L. Strezov: Proc. 17th Annual Int. Pittsburgh Coal Conf., Pittsburgh, PA, Oct. 11–15, 1999, University of Pittsburgh, pp. 3–5.

  15. Suhas V. Patankar: Numerical Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow, Hemisphere Publishing Co., New York, NY, 1980, pp. 52–54.

    Google Scholar 

  16. A. Blažek: Thermal Analysis, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Ltd., London, 1973, pp. 168–73.

    Google Scholar 

  17. A.A. Agroskin, E.I. Goncharov, L.A. Makeev, and V.P. Yakunin: Coke Chem., 1970, vol. 5, pp. 7–11.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Y. Yun and E.M. Suuberg: Fuel, 1993, vol. 72, pp. 1245–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. H.D. Glass: Fuel, 1955, vol. 34, pp. 253–68.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. D.B. Anthony and J.B. Howard: AIChE J., 1976, vol. 22, pp. 625–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. S. Badzioch: BCURA Monthly Bull., 1960, vol. 24, pp. 485–519.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Chemical Engineering, University Of Newcastle, 2308, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    Vladimir Strezov (Research Associate) & John A. Lucas (Senior Lecturer)

  2. BHP Minerals Development, 2287, Wallsend, NSW, Australia

    Les Strezov (Principal Research Engineer)

Authors
  1. Vladimir Strezov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John A. Lucas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Les Strezov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This article is based on a presentation made in the “Geoffrey Belton Memorial Symposium,” held in January 2000, in Sydney, Australia, under the joint sponsorship of ISS and TMS.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Strezov, V., Lucas, J.A. & Strezov, L. Quantifying the heats of coal devolatilization. Metall Mater Trans B 31, 1125–1131 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-000-0088-x

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-000-0088-x

Keywords

  • Material Transaction
  • Coal Sample
  • Endothermic Reaction
  • High Heating Rate
  • Coke Coal