NO/sub x/ formation during gas combustion

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Coal Process. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6528066

Lisauskas, R A; Johnson, S A

A certain amount of coal nitrogen is released in the form of ammonia, cyanide, or condensible organic compounds during fixed bed gasification. The conversion of fuel nitrogen to NH/sub 3/ is largely a function of gasifier outlet temperature and hydrogen partial pressure. These parameters are controlled to a great degree by the amount of steam used in the gasifying media. The experimental work on diffusion flames was conducted in Riley Stoker Corp.'s coal gasification pilot plant. The conversion rate of ammonia to NO/sub x/ in premixed flames was also briefly investigated with a laboratory Meker burner. It was found that: (1) NO/sub x/ emissions due to the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen from the combustion of low Btu gas were observed to be between 90 and 140 parts/million for both diffusion and pre-mixed flames. (2) NO/sub x/ emissions were found to be a direct function of both furnace excess oxygen and measured amounts of NH/sub 3/ in the fuel gas. In the results reported here, the conversion of NH/sub 3/ to NO/sub x/ contributed between 60 to 180 parts/million to the total level of emissions. (3) The conversion efficiency of NH/sub 3/ to NO/sub x/ varied inversely with NH/sub 3/ concentration to the burner. (4) At low NH/sub 3/ concentrations (0 to 2,000 parts/million) the conversion of NH/sub 3/ to NO/sub x/ in a laboratory premixed flame was approximately twice that which was observed in a diffusion flame. (5) The overall conversion of coal nitrogen to NO/sub x/ in a gasification/combustion process was significantly less than that which occurs in the direct burning of pulverized coal. These test results indicate that it was smaller by about a factor of two.

• Research Organization: Riley Stoker Corp., Worcester, MA
• OSTI ID: 6528066
• Journal Information: Coal Process. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Coal Process. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN CPRTD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
014000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Combustion
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AMMONIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL GASIFICATION
COMBUSTION
CYANIDES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LOW BTU GAS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
YIELDS