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U.S. Department of Energy
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Pyrolysis of bituminous coal blocks

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6681607

Internal heat and mass transfer resistances were observed to affect the pyrolysis of bituminous coal blocks in experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Pyrolysis, the reaction step which occurs after drying and before gasification, is conventionally studied by the rapid heating of powdered samples so that internal resistances can be minimized. Because monolithic coal rather than powdered coal is reacted in underground coal gasification (UCG), the measurement of differences between powder and block pyrolysis is particularly important to the successful, broadly applicable modeling and development of UCG. In a block pyrolysis reactor at ORNL, 0.15-m (6-in.)-diam cylinders of bituminous coal were heated at 0.3, 3, or 14/sup 0/C/min; in inert gas (Ar) and in H/sub 2/; and to maximum pyrolysis temperatures of 600 to 1000/sup 0/C. In the tests performed at higher heating rates, a significant reduction in swelling of the coal was observed which can be correlated with the steep temperature gradients caused by heat transfer resistances. Also, at higher heating rates, pyrolysis gas evolution was increased as oil and char yields decreased. Such behavior is evidence of secondary cracking reactions caused by a combination of the steep temperature gradients and mass transfer resistances.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
6681607
Report Number(s):
CONF-780723-6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English