Emission control of sodium compounds and their formation mechanisms during coal combustion

Abstract

In order to control emissions of sodium compounds during coal combustion, the sorbent injection technology is tested during coal combustion. Kaolin is selected as the sorbent to absorb vapors of sodium compounds evolved from the coals. In the combustion experiments, the kaolin is physically mixed with coal. Two types of coal, which have the similar coal properties, are burned. Combustion tests are conducted, using an electrically heated drop tube furnace, to study effect of kaolin addition on the capture characteristics of sodium compounds. In order to elucidate fundamentals on transformation behaviors of sodium compounds during hydrogen–air combustion, chemical kinetic simulation by elementary reactions relating to sodium compounds is also performed, varying the reaction atmosphere. As a result, the kaolin can effectively capture the vapor of sodium compounds even during coal combustion. The capture efficiency depends on the coal type. The sodium compounds for the coals, which produce many fine particles with size of less than 1 μm, tend to be effectively captured by the kaolin. According to the kinetic simulation of sodium species, difference of the reaction atmosphere affects occurrence species of sodium vapor. In the combustion region, the sodium compounds become metallic sodium vapor in any reaction atmospheres due to occurrence of the reducing radical species. HCl gas rather than SO 2 gas plays an important role to transform gaseous sodium compounds.