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Effect of ash fraction and particle size on ash deposition during pulverized coal combustion

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Abstract

Coal is an important energy source to increase consumption continuously. However, the ash residues from coal combustion have produced ash deposition that causes slagging and fouling in boilers. The goal of this study is to examine the characteristics of ash deposits (i.e., the effects of the ash fraction and particle size) in pulverized coal combustion. For this study, five coals (Suek, Macqurie, Berau, Lanna and Vitol) are used, which have similar chemical components in the ash but differences in the ash fraction. A Thermomechanical analysis technique (TMA) and Drop tube furnace (DTF) are used to analyze the tendencies in the ash fusibility and deposition with temperature, respectively. Moreover, the size and morphology of the fly ash are analyzed for physical changes by using a particle-sizedistribution analyzer and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. In the TMA results, all coal types have a similar fusibility because of the similar chemical components in the ash. The order of the deposited mass is Suek, Macqurie, Berau, Vitol and Lanna in accordance with the ash fraction in the DTF. The ash fraction in coal is a major factor in the ash deposit according to these results. The size of the fly ash changed compared to that of the raw coal according to the results of a particle-size analysis and SEM owing to physical processes such as fragmentation, shedding and coalescence during coal burning. On this basis, a deposition model is developed with the ash fraction and particle size. The model results are in good agreement with the measurements. The results demonstrate that the particle size and ash fraction influence the deposit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Korea

    Ho Lim, Lkhagvadorj Shagdarsuren, Chang-Hee Oh & Chung-Hwan Jeon

  2. Boiler R&D Center, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd., Changwon, Gyengnam, 51711, Korea

    Byoung-Hwa Lee

  3. Pusan Clean Coal Center, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Korea

    Chung-Hwan Jeon

Authors
  1. Ho Lim
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  2. Lkhagvadorj Shagdarsuren
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  3. Chang-Hee Oh
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  4. Byoung-Hwa Lee
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  5. Chung-Hwan Jeon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chung-Hwan Jeon.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Jeong Park

Ho Lim received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Kumoh Institute of Technology, 2009. He then received his M.S. degree from Pusan National University in 2011. He is currently a Ph.D. student at Pusan National University.

Lkhagvadorj Shagdarsuren received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Mongolian University of Science and Technology, 2008. He is currently an Integrated Ph.D. course student at Pusan National University.

Chang-Hee Oh received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Pusan National University, 2014. He is currently an Integrated Ph.D. course student at Pusan National University.

Byoung-Hwa Lee received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Korea Maritime University in 2003. His Ph.D. is from Pusan National University in 2011. He is currently a principal research engineer at Boiler R&D center in Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction.

Chung-Hwan Jeon received his B.S. (1985), M.S. (1987) and Ph.D. (1994) degrees from Pusan National University. Dr. Jeon is currently a professor in the school of Mechanical Engineering at Pusan National University, and is currently serving as a director of Pusan Clean Coal Center.

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Lim, H., Shagdarsuren, L., Oh, CH. et al. Effect of ash fraction and particle size on ash deposition during pulverized coal combustion. J Mech Sci Technol 30, 3393–3400 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-0648-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-0648-x

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