PAH emissions from combustion of coal liquids in industrial furnace
The possible environmental impact of substituting fuel oils derived from coal instead of petroleum was investigated using an industrial furnace. Emphasis was placed on the emissions of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The nonpetroleum fuel oil (ECLP-SS) was produced from Texas lignite coal by the Exxon Donor Solvent Process at the Exxon Coal Liquefaction Pilot Plant. The effects of furnace loading and flue-gas temperature on PAH emissions were studied by varying both the firing rate of the burner and the amount of wall insulation in the water-cooled furnace. The research furnace was fully instrumented for measuring the concentration of oxygen, carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NO/sub x/) in the flue gas. PAH emissions were measured by a special sampling train and analytical method. Seventeen successful test runs were completed using the ECLP-SS, natural gas, and No. 6 fuel oil. Highly luminous flames indicated the formation of carbon particles during the combustion of both fuel oils; however, no visible soot emissions were observed with either fuel oil over the entire range of operation. The very low level of CO emissions indicated complete combustion with all test fuels at all operating conditions, and the calculated combustion efficiencies were 99.9+ percent. As expected, because of its low nitrogen content, NO/sub x/ emissions with ECLP-SS were below the Federal standard for new stationary sources. There are no PAH emission limits in the Federal standards at this time, and none are planned. We used the predominant PAH species of pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(e)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene to indicate total PAH concentration. When compared at the same furnace condition, we found that PAH emissions were not statistically different for the three fuels tested. Therefore, we conclude that the combustion of coal-derived fuel oils should not generate objectionable PAH emissions in industrial furnaces.
- Research Organization:
- Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, OK (USA); Zink (J.) and Co., Tulsa, Okla (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6036096
- Report Number(s):
- CSS/CI-83-09; CONF-830358-10; ON: DE83902026
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
014000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Combustion
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
BENZANTHRACENE
BENZOPYRENE
BROWN COAL
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL
COAL LIQUEFACTION
COAL LIQUIDS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
EMISSION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXXON LIQUEFACTION PROCESS
FLUE GAS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUEL OILS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
LIGNITE
LIQUEFACTION
LIQUID FUELS
LIQUIDS
LOADING RATE
MATERIALS
MONITORING
NATURAL GAS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OILS
ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERYLENE
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PYRENE
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES