Haibin Zuo

Thermogravimetric Analysis of Coal Char Combustion Kinetics

Four chars prepared from pulverized coals were subjected to non-isothermal and isothermal combustion tests in a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) device. Three different test methods, i. e., non-isothermal single heating rate (A), non-isothermal multiple heating rate (B), and isothermal test (C), were conducted to calculate the kinetic parameters of combustion of coal char. The results show that the combustion characteristics of bituminous coal char is better than that of anthracite char, and both increase of heating rate and increase of combustion temperature can obviously improve combustion characteristics of coal char. Activation energies of coal char combustion calculated by different methods are different, with activation energies calculated by methods A, B and C in the range of 103. 12–153. 77, 93. 87–119. 26, and 46. 48–76. 68 kJ/mol, respectively. By using different methods, activation energy of anthracite char is always higher than that of bituminous coal char. In non-isothermal tests, with increase of combustion temperature, the combustion process changed from kinetic control to diffusion control. For isothermal combustion, the combustion process was kinetically controlled at temperature lower than 580 °C for bituminous coal char and at temperature lower than 630 °C for anthracite char.

Devolatilization Characteristics and Kinetic Analysis of Lump Coal from China COREX3000 Under High Temperature

A devolatilization study of two lump coals used in China COREX3000 was carried out in a self-developed thermo-gravimetry at four temperature conditions [1173 K, 1273 K, 1373 K, and 1473 K (900 °C, 1000 °C, 1100 °C, and 1200 °C)] under N2. This study reveals that the working temperature has a strong impact on the devolatilization rate of the lump coal: the reaction rate increases with the increasing temperature. However, the temperature has little influence on the maximum mass loss. The conversion rate curve shows that the reaction rate of HY lump coal is higher than KG lump coal. The lump coals were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, and optical microscopy to explore the correlation between devolatilization rate and properties of lump coal. The results show that the higher reaction rate of HY lump coal attributes to its more active maceral components, less aromaticity and orientation degree of the crystallite, and more oxygenated functional groups. The random nucleation and nuclei growth model (RNGM), volume model (VM), and unreacted shrinking core model (URCM) were employed to describe the reaction behavior of lump coal. It was concluded from kinetics analysis that RNGM model was the best model for describing the devolatilization of lump coals. The apparent activation energies of isothermal devolatilization of HY lump coal and KG lump coal are 42.35 and 45.83 kJ/mol, respectively. This study has implications for the characteristics and mechanism modeling of devolatilization of lump coal in COREX gasifier.

Comparison of kinetic models for isothermal CO2 gasification of coal char-biomass char blended char

This study investigated the isothermal gasification reactivity of biomass char (BC) and coal char (CC) blended at mass ratios of 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1 via isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at 900, 950, and 1000°C under CO2. With an increase in BC blending ratio, there were an increase in gasification rate and a shortening of gasification time. This could be attributed to the high specific surface area of BC and the high uniformity of carbon structures in CC when compared to those in BC. Three representative gas-solid kinetic models, namely, the volumetric model (VM), grain model (GM), and random pore model (RPM), were applied to describe the reaction behavior of the char. Among them, the RPM model was considered the best model to describe the reactivity of the char gasification reaction. The activation energy of BC and CC isothermal gasification as determined using the RPM model was found to be 126.7 kJ/mol and 210.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The activation energy was minimum (123.1 kJ/mol) for the BC blending ratio of 75%. Synergistic effect manifested at all mass ratios of the blended char, which increased with the gasification temperature.

Comprehensive Mathematical Model and Optimum Process Parameters of Nitrogen Free Blast Furnace

According to diferent energy utilization in diferent regions, blast furnace is divided into raceway zone, botom heat exchange zone (BHZ), thermal reserve zone (TRZ), and top heat exchange zone (THZ), and a mathematical model of nitrogen free blast furnace (NF-BF) is established. The optimum process parameters of two kinds of nitrogen free blast furnaces are calculated by the new mathematical model. The results show that for the nitrogen free blast furnace with a single row of tuyeres, the optimum process parameters are coke ratio of 220 kg/t, coal ratio of 193 kg/t, and volume of recycling top gas of 577 m3/t; for two rows of tuyeres, the process parameters are coke ratio of 202 kg/t, coal ratio of 211 kg/t, volume of recycling top gas in upper area of 296 m3/t, and volume of recycling top gas in lower area of 295 m3/t. Energy balances are reached in diferent regions. Theoretical combustion temperature (TCT) in raceway zone is largely afected by diferent processes, and a lower TCT should be adopted for the single row of tuyeres, but for two rows of tuyeres, a higher TCT should be maintained Compared with traditional blast furnace, in NF-BF, the emission of CO2 would be reduced by 45.91% and 49.02% for a single row of tuyeres and two rows of tuyeres, respectively, and combined with CO2 sequestration technology, zero emission of CO2 could be realized.

Effect of CaCl2 on RDI and RI of Sinter

On the premise of maintaining the reducibility of sinter unchanged, it is of great significance to reduce the RDI (reduction degradation index) of sinter, which will improve the permeability of blast furnace burden column, so as to realize stable and smooth performance, and keep high yield and low consumption. Under laboratory conditions, a study on the RDI and RI (reduction index) of sinter was proposed, in which the sinter was immersed in solutions with different types and concentrations. In order to study the mechanism of CaCl2 effect on the RDI and RI of sinter, analysis based on the methods of IR spectra, SEM and chalcography was adopted. The results show that Cl− is the main factor reducing the RDI of sinter, and the RDI and RI of sinter decrease with the increase of Cl− concentration. With comprehensive consideration of the RDI and RI of sinter, when the concentration of Cl− is 2%, the RDI of sinter will be significantly reduced and RI will not be affected.

Mechanisms of Swelling of Iron Ore Oxidized Pellets in High Reduction Potential Atmosphere

The influences of the time, temperature and atmosphere on the reduction swelling of oxidized pellets were investigated by single factor experiments. The mechanisms of reduction swelling of oxidized pellets were analyzed and investigated by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffractometer) analysis. The results show that the change rules of reduction swelling index of oxidized pellets in different reduction atmospheres are very similar. With the increase of reduction time, the reduction swelling index moves up firstly and then down. When the reduction temperature is above 900 °C, α-quartz turns into α-tridymite, and the transition generates additional volume expansion effect. The reduction swelling index changes faster in H2 atmosphere than in CO atmosphere. Increasing H2 content in the reduction atmosphere is useful to decrease the reduction swelling index, but it is also easy to cause oxidized pellets cracking.

Innovative method for boron extraction from iron ore containing boron

A novel process for boron enrichment and extraction from ludwigite based on iron nugget technology was proposed. The key steps of this novel process, which include boron and iron separation, crystallization of boron-rich slag, and elucidation of the boron extraction behavior of boron-rich slag by acid leaching, were performed at the laboratory. The results indicated that 95.7% of the total boron could be enriched into the slag phase, thereby forming a boron-rich slag during the iron and slag melting separation process. Suanite and kotoite were observed to be the boron-containing crystalline phases, and the boron extraction properties of the boron-rich slag depended on the amounts and grain sizes of these minerals. When the boron-rich slag was slowly cooled to 1100°C, the slag crystallized well and the efficiency of extraction of boron (EEB) of the slag was the highest observed in the present study. The boron extraction property of the slow-cooled boron-rich slag obtained in this study was much better than that of szaibelyite ore under the conditions of 80% of theoretical sulfuric acid amount, leaching time of 30 min, leaching temperature of 40°C, and liquid-to-solid ratio of 8 mL/g.

CO2 Gasification Characteristics of High and Low Reactivity Cokes

In order to effectively utilize the high reactivity coke, the gasification characteristics of high and low reactivity cokes were investigated at 1100 °C. Low reactivity coke A and high reactivity coke B were chosen and charged into the reaction tube in two methods. The results indicated that the mass loss ratio of high reactivity coke in mixed cokes was more significant than that of single high reactivity coke in the middle stage of reaction. Nevertheless, the mass loss ratio of low reactivity coke in mixed cokes was less than that of single low reactivity coke. It was mainly attributed to gas diffusion and internal reaction of coke. When high and low reactivity cokes were mixed, the practical average mass loss ratio was nearly the same as the weighted average. The microscopic structures of coke indicated that with the increase of reaction time, the external and internal layers of low reactivity coke reacted more uniformly with CO2, whereas the reaction degree of external layer of high reactivity coke was obviously higher.

Ore blending ratio optimisation for sintering based on iron ore properties and cost

Abstract The iron ore blend for sintering depends to a great extent on ore properties. It is hard to determine the final sinter reducibility from the reducibility and ratio of single iron ores in a mixture. For production cost reduction, optimised blending ratios were designed according to ore prices and properties (microstructure, crystal water decomposition, assimilation ability, liquid phase fluidity), ensuring nearly identical chemical composition as the mixture used in actual sintering. Sinter pot tests were conducted to determine the optimum mix. The results indicate that properties of iron ores vary greatly, which should be considered for the design of ore blending ratio. The total content of the two Australian ores tested should not exceed 45%. The cost of sintering process could be further reduced together with an improvement of economic and technical indices, only by ratio adjustment of present ores.

Preparation of Graphene-Perfluoroalkoxy Composite and Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) material exhibits perfect corrosion resistance under both acid or alkaline circumstances; thus, steel heat exchangers are being substituted by those made of PFA in high corrosion atmospheres. However, the low thermal conductivity of PFA degrades its heat transfer efficiency. Based on the extremely high heat conductivity of graphene, a novel grapheme-PFA composite was proposed to simultaneously meet the demands of heat transfer and corrosion resistance. Ultrasonic dispersion technology was used to disperse the aggregated graphene in the composite. Graphene–PFA composites with different graphene contents and using different dispersing solvents were prepared with a hot pressing method, and thermal conductivity, abrasion resistance, crystallization and pyrolysis properties were investigated. The thermal conductivity of PFA composites with graphene content of 20 wt % reached 5.017 W (m·k)−1, which is 21.88 times that of pure PFA. The relationship between the abrasion loss and the friction coefficient of the composites with different graphene contents was obtained. A thermogravimetric analyzer was used to investigate the crystallization and pyrolysis behavior of the composites; correspondingly, the temperature range that composites work in was determined. The heat conduction mechanism was analyzed through the thermal conductivity model of composite materials. The composite material is expected to play an important role in the development of high-performance thermal equipment.