Effect of moisture release on radiation behavior of burning coal bed between enclosed confined surfaces

Abstract

In this study, a numerical analysis was performed to predict the radiation characteristics of burning coal layers heated on confined surfaces in an enclosed chamber. The one-dimensional (1D) unsteady energy balance equation and radiative transfer equation (RTE) were solved simultaneously using the semi-implicit Runge–Kutta method (SIRK) and discrete ordinate method (DOM). In addition to the 1D analysis, a commercial software was used to analyze the two-dimensional (2D) radiation behavior of the burning coal layers using the DOM.The heat generation rate (relevant to the combustion rate) and particle absorption coefficient were independently determined using combustion and thermal emission experiments. The gas absorption coefficient was calculated from gray gas models to account for the change of H2O vapor along coal and gas mixture with high moisture content. The dimensionless radiative heat flux and temperature distribution were determined for the three calculation cases. Two different predictions based on 1D and 2D geometries were validated against measured heat flux and temperature data. The effect of the moisture release inside the particle layer was particularly examined. The result indicates that the condensation of H2O is probably more responsible than the absorption of H2O vapor for a reduced heat flux observed in the combustion condition of high moisture coal burning at high pressure.