Modeling for Mineral Redistribution of Coal Blending During Pulverized Coal Combustion

Abstract

This paper represents an analytical model for predicting mineral particle redistribution of coal blending during pulverized coal (PC) combustion in a pulverized coal-fired boiler. The objective of this research is to develop a computer program to perform the mass balance of total minerals after transformation during combustion. A MATLAB code was developed for coal blending mineral redistribution from single coal mineral redistribution in modular approach based on relative Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) of coals. The calculations of the single coal number of ash particles before and after combustion both for excluded and included minerals from the single coal proximate analysis, Malvern analysis, Computer Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM) analysis, density and composition analysis were designed in a submodule. Utilizing single coal sub-module, the calculations of coal blending number of ash particles before and after combustion both for excluded and included minerals were designed in a module of MATLAB code. The blending modeling was designed to blend up to five sub-bituminous coals. Calculations were made for typical boiler combustion conditions ranging from 1,500K to 2,500K as flame temperature. The organically-associated ash content or mineral grains of each coal smaller than 1 micrometer was not included in the calculation of redistribution modeling. Coal particle fragmentation of blended coal was considered as same as single coal and size dependent phenomena. Partial coalescence model was assumed as more likely to occur. Blended coal was assumed to follow additive rule applied to mineral mass percentage based on sizes and mineral phase regardless grinding of coals separately or after blending if the HGI difference between highest and lowest HGI of coals arranged in ascending order stands within five. The modeling was demonstrated for KPU: AVRA and AVRA: Solntsevsky with specific blending ratio 80:20 and 20:80 respectively. The model for blended coal was validated by the mass balance of minerals before and after combustion. The resulting simplified particle size distribution of mass fraction of KPU: AVRA shows good agreement with experimental results of Kentucky #9 coal because of having a larger amount of included minerals of KPU coal. The model for blended coal mineral redistribution before and after combustion will be developed for the HGI difference between highest and lowest HGI of coals arranged in ascending order becomes greater than five and validated by minerals mass balance before and after combustion. This modeling will be used to predict number of mineral particles and its sizes that is a key parameter as to predict the problems like fouling and slagging and the related reduction of boiler efficiency. The results from this study will be further carried out to investigate ash deposition rates in post-boiler heat exchangers.