Low-temperature oxidation of coal. 2. An experimental and modelling investigation using a fixed-bed isothermal flow reactor

Abstract

Results of an experimental and theoretical modelling investigation on the low-temperature oxidation of fresh, wet, low-rank coals are reported. The rates of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide formation were measured for Wyoming subbituminous coal, using an isothermal fixed-bed flow reactor. The measurements are interpreted with a one-dimensional continuum model, including the single-particle diffusion-reaction model developed in Part 1, for the fixed-bed reactor. The model calculations are also compared with other data reported in the literature. The results indicate that the model provides a satisfactory explanation for the dependence on particle size and temperature of the low-temperature oxidation of dry and fresh wet coal. Extension of this formulation to model spontaneous combustion in coal stockpiles is reported in Part 3.