Ignition and thermal decomposition of solid organic fuel: The influence of activation, deactivation, and composite formation

Abstract

The article discusses research on the thermal decomposition and ignition of coal, pine sawdust, and composite fuels derived from them. Through simultaneous thermal analysis, it was observed that the combustion process occurs in two primary stages. In the first stage, gaseous products are released and burned, while in the second stage, carbon produced in the first stage undergoes oxidation. The study also revealed the impact of mechanical activation and deactivation of ground fuel. Interestingly, the properties of coal and sawdust in the composite fuel formation are not simply additive. When the composite contains more carbon, there is a shift in the maximum decomposition rates towards higher temperatures in the first stage. Additionally, there is a decrease in decomposition magnitude during the first stage and an increase during the second stage. Moreover, it was found that the combustion temperatures of the composite fuel and mixture are higher than those of sawdust alone. Furthermore, the composite fuel exhibits superior burning characteristics as compared to the mixture. It ignites earlier, and the combustion zone shifts towards the center, resulting in enhanced fuel combustion efficiency.