Characteristics of American coals in relation to their conversion into clean energy fuels. Quarterly technical progress report, January--March 1976. [2 appendices; 19 refs. Dryflo separation tests data]

Technical Report · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7340821· OSTI ID:7340821

Spackman, W.; Davis, A.; Walker, P. L.; Lovell, H. L.; Essenhigh, R. H.; Vastola, F. J.; Given, P. H.

Responses to the questionnaire, which was distributed to determine the extent to which the nation's coal seams have been sampled and characterized, are being received. Early comparisons indicate a mathematical relationship between average random reflectance (Rapid Scan) and the mean-maximum reflectance as obtained by standard reflectance analysis. Results obtained so far show support of a diffusion dominance mechanism in the oxidation region of a combustion pot and a chemical kinetic mechanism in the gasification region. Values of reaction rates in coke beds have been calculated from experiments with a fixed bed shaft gasifier. Devolatilization of a North Dakota lignite in a laminar flow reactor and subsequent treatment of the resulting char has shown that weight loss is strongly dependent upon the isothermal decomposition time. Although gasification rates increase with increase in partial pressure of oxygen, the mechanism for gasification of a given char is independent of partial pressure of oxygen. Study of the reactivity of ion-exchanged lignite chars to steam shows that increased heat treatment decreases reactivity and ion exchange increases reactivity. Use of the DSC technique to study the thermal effects involved during chemisorption of oxygen on Saran carbon has yielded information on the activation energy (EA) of the reaction. Work on the infinite parallel plane char combustion computer model has determined that low volatile chars and coals can be suitable fuels if adequate available internal surface area is present.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• OSTI ID: 7340821
• Report Number(s): FE-2030-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
013000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
014000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Combustion
ACTIVATION ENERGY
ANTHRACITE
BLACK COAL
BROWN COAL
CARBON
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHARS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISORPTION
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL PREPARATION
COMBUSTION
COMMINUTION
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL OILS
FUELS
GASIFICATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING OILS
KINETICS
LIGNITE
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH DAKOTA
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PYROLYSIS
REACTION KINETICS
REMOVAL
RESOURCES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
STEAM
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TIME DEPENDENCE
USA
VOLATILE MATTER