Understanding fusibility characteristics and flow properties of the biomass and biomass-coal ash samples

Abstract

The fusibility characteristics and flow properties of the biomass and biomass-coal ash samples were investigated in this paper. Ash fusibility of the biomass-coal blended samples was evaluated systematically. The mineral matters variation and liquidus temperature of the biomass-coal blended samples were demonstrated by FactSage. The results show that the ash fusion temperature of biomass-coal blended samples decreases and then increases with the increasing content of biomass (straw). The ash fusion temperature reaches the minimum when straw content is 50%. Moreover, the liquidus temperature reflected in the phase diagram can predict the variation of ash fusion temperature well. Furthermore, the flow properties of high temperature ash (HTA) and low temperature ash (LTA) straw samples at different atmosphere were observed using the heating stage microscope. In the heating process, the HTA and LTA straw samples show the similar variation: shrinkage, fusion and spreading. However, the volume changes of the HTA and LTA straw samples are different considerably attributing to the mineral matters variation. It was revealed that the volume change of HTA and LTA straw samples is not obvious at the lower temperature. For the LTA straw sample in air atmosphere, the maximal volume change is obtained.