Fate of Sulfur during Entrained-Flow Gasification of Pittsburgh No. 8 Coal: Influence of Particle Size, Sulfur Forms, and Temperature

Abstract

Sulfur release behavior and gas-phase sulfur emissions during gasification of Pittsburgh no. 8 coal were examined using an entrained-flow gasifier at atmospheric pressure. To study the fate of sulfur forms, the coal was separated into specific gravity fractions that were rich in organic sulfur (SG1), organic and inorganic sulfur (SG2), and inorganic sulfur (SG3). Two particle sizes in each specific gravity fraction, finer (75–106 μm) and coarser (212–425 μm), were examined to determine the influence of particle size at three different temperatures (1573, 1673, and 1773 K). The results showed that the initial coal particle size affected (finer > coarser) the sulfur release behavior of SG2 fractions rich in both organic and inorganic sulfur and SG3 fractions rich in inorganic (predominantly pyritic) sulfur, indicating that mass transfer resistance to sulfur release increases with inorganic sulfur and mineral matter in the feed. The percent sulfur released into the gas phase was highest for organic-sulfur-ri...