Ho Young Park

Low-temperature reactivity of coals for evaluation of spontaneous combustion propensity

Low rank coals are more reactive at low temperatures than high rank coals, which leads to spontaneous combustion if not controlled. Due to the increased use of low rank coals, preventing spontaneous combustion during storage and size reduction has become an important issue in power plants. The present study evaluates the low-temperature reactivity for various coals in terms of their rank and country of origin. The experimental method determined the temperature and its gradient for coals in a small fixed bed at the point surpassing that of input oxygen, which were defined as the crossing-point temperature (CPT) and slope (CPS), respectively. Combining the two parameters, a low-temperature reactivity index (LTR index) was proposed. The method tested 17 coals collected from a power plant that yielded CPTs ranging between 168–190 °C and CPSs between 0.862–1.228 °C/min. The LTR index for the coals was calculated to be 0.696 to 1.542. The LTR index was positively correlated with the moisture content and volatile matter/fixed carbon (VM/FC) ratio, and inversely correlated with the ash content. The ignition temperature, measured by thermogravimetric tests, also exhibited a positive relationship with the LTR index. However, no single property of coal was sufficiently correlated with the self-heating propensity for all the coals tested, illustrating the complex mechanisms involved.

Laminar Burning Velocities of Atmospheric Coal Air Mixtures

Abstract The mechanism for laminar dust flame propagation can only be elucidated from a comprehensive mathematical model which incorporates conduction and radiation, as well as the chemical kinetics of particle devolatilization and gas phase and char rea ction. The mathematical model for a flat, laminar, premixed coal-air flame is applied to the atmospheric coal-air mixtures studied by Smoot and co-workers, and comparisons are made with their measurements and predictions. Here the principal parameter for comparison is the laminar burning velocity. The studies of Smoot and co-workers are first reviewed and compared with those predicted by the present model. The effects of inlet temperature and devolatilization rate constants on the burning velocities are studied with the present model, and compared with their measurements and predictions. Their m easured burning velocities are approximately predicted with the pr esent model at relatively high coal concentrations, with a somewhat increased inlet temperature. From the comparisons, their model might over-estimate particle temperature and rates of devolatilization. This would enable coal-air mixtures to be burned without any form of preheat and would tend to increase their computed values of burning velocity.

Advanced slagging propensity of coal and its assessment with the conventional indices

The fuel characteristics and combustion behaviors of bituminous (Anglo) and sub-bituminous (Tanito) coals used in 500MW coal fired power plant have been investigated. With ashes of those coals, the ash fusibility is characterized with thermo mechanical analyzer, and the advanced ash slagging propensity, BHEL index, has been obtained. The melting-down of tanito coal ash happened in the temperature range of 1,200 to , and for anglo coal ash it occurred near . BHEL indices for two coals gives the high slagging propensity, and these are compared with the existing traditional indices which give different tendencies.

Characteristics of Unburned Material Derived from Coal-fired Power Plant Burning Low Grade Coal

Sub-bituminous coals have been used increasingly in coal-fired power plants with a proportion of over 50% in the blend with bituminous coals. As a result, the unburned material in fly ash has increased and is causing problems in utilizing the fly ash as an additive for concrete production. In this study, analysis of fly ash obtained from a 500 MWe power plant was carried out and unburned material in the fly ash found to be soot. The coals used in the plant were analyzed with CPD model to investigate the sooting potential depending on the coal type and blending ratio.

Co-combustion of Bituminous Coal with Anthracite in a Down-firing, 200 MW Boiler

The combustion tests for Korean anthracite-bituminous coal blend were carried out in the 200 MW utility boiler. The burning characteristics of the blend were studied with a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). From the observation of TGA burning profiles, it was found that the presence of bituminous coal in the blend appeared to enhance the reactivity of anthracite in the higher temperature region, indicating certain interactions between the two coals. The plant test showed the boiler operation was reasonably stable with somewhat poor combustion efficiency, and some modification of the combustion environment in the furnace is necessitate for the further stable plant operation.