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U.S. Department of Energy
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Study of the burning velocity of laminar coal dust flames

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5325820

A study of the burning velocities of coal dust suspensions has been carried out on small flames on a tube burner, under conditions of laminar flow. Most of the measurements have involved one selected bituminous coal, plus blends of this coal with anthracite. Burning rates have been measured over a wide range of coal dust concentrations, using supporting atmospheres slightly enriched in oxygen. The burning rate exhibits a maximum at a composition lying between stoichiometric for the total coal and stoichiometric for the coal volatiles. An analysis of the dependence of burning rate on the flame temperature shows that both radiative and conductive heat transfer are important in these small, laminar flames. Because conductive transfer is important, combustion of the volatiles, which gives rise to large conductive transfer in the flame front, is a significant factor in determining the burning rate. As a result, blending of bituminous coal with anthracite always decreases the burning rate. In large flames, this should not occur because radiant transfer will dominate.

Research Organization:
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Dept. of Fuel Technology
OSTI ID:
5325820
Report Number(s):
SR-36
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English