A method for measuring the kinetics of organically associated inorganic contaminant vaporization during coal combustion

• Published in: Fuel processing technology Vol. 92; no. 7; pp. 1333 - 1339
• Main Authors: Raeva, Anna A., Pierce, David T., Seames, Wayne S., Kozliak, Evguenii I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activation energy; Applied sciences; atomic absorption spectrometry; atomization; coal; Coal combustion; combustion; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry; pyrolysis; temperature; Trace element partitioning; trace elements; volatilization; Coal combustion; Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry; Trace element partitioning; Activation energy; Pyrolysis; Combustion; Graphite furnace atomic absorption; Furnace; Physical properties; Operating conditions; Vaporization; Temperature measurement; Trace element; Gas flow; Physical model; Coal; Graphite; spectrometry; Kinetics; Measurement method; Atomization
• ISSN: 0378-3820; 1873-7188
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2011.02.011

A novel method is presented for the direct measurement of kinetic parameters under conditions that simulate the vaporization of inorganic material during coal combustion. This method will ultimately be used to generate key physical property data necessary to model and assess the vaporization behavior of trace elements (TEs) during coal combustion. The method uses a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFAAS) as the experimental platform for vaporization measurements for temperatures up to 2800 K. The method was used to model vaporization during coal pyrolysis for one of the three key contaminant domains: organically associated material. Significant testing was conducted for selected TEs under varied instrumental operational conditions that could affect activation energies, such as GFAAS ashing and atomization temperatures, TE concentration, and carrier gas flow rate. The vaporization activation energies determined were found to be independent of these operating conditions despite a significant difference in the degree of analyte vaporization observed at varied ashing temperatures.