Joseph D. Smith

A Global Kinetic Model for the Formation and Destruction of the Products of Incomplete Combustion Produced from the Combustion of o-Dichlorobenzene

Abstract Data on combustion samples obtained from burning o-dichlorobenzene, taken earlier (Van Dell and Mahle, 1992), were used to develop a three step semi-empirical global kinetic model to describe the formation and destruction of various Products of Incomplete Combustion (PICs). This model assumes that the reactions occur consecutively in the post flame temperature range and that the reverse reaction rates are negligible. Using this model, in conjunction with selected activation energies, concentration vs. temperature profiles for the various PICs were constructed that match the experimental data. Activation energies selected were generally taken from the literature to represent both the homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Important processes considered in this model include chlorination, dechlorination, adsorption, coupling, decoupling and cyclization reactions. Measured temperature vs. distance profiles were utilized along with the kinetic concentration/temperature profiles to construct concentra...

Application of Computational Fluid Mechanics to Modeling the Incineration of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Wastes in Thermal Oxidizers

ABSTRACT Manufacture of chlorinated hydrocarbon (RCI) based products includes treating the associated waste streams. On the basis of “Best-Available-Technology, ”waste disposal is generally accomplished using vent incinerators (thermal oxidizers). Vent incineration may lead to the formation of undesirable Products of Incomplete Combustion (PICs). The recent Boiler & Industrial Furnace (BIF) regulations have required that companies certify the ability of their Thermal Oxidizers (TOXs) to meet these new emissions∗ regulations. Earlier work has focused on identifying and investigating the chemical processes leading to PIC formation. Past work has shown that PIC formation depends greatly on local process conditions. Thus, developing and implementing a methodology to predict local conditions inside a TOX may significantly enhance the ability to predict PIC formation during incineration. The present work includes developing and applying a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based incineration model to simulate ...

Effects of coal quality on utility furnace performance

Abstract Use of lower than design grade coals can cause problems in furnaces and boilers due to increased ash deposits. A single-zone model has been developed to relate coal quality to thermal performance of pulverized, coal-fired power-generating boilers. The model, based on algebraic mass and energy balances and necessary auxiliary equations, estimates some of the required chemical and physical coal/ash properties. Three wall ash deposit parameters, thermal conductivity, emittance and thickness, have been determined by a sensitivity analysis to be critical to furnace performance and have been obtained by experimental procedures described herein. Data for ash properties are reported for Utah, Illinois and Western Kentucky bituminous coals. With these measured properties, the model has been used to predict effects of coal quality on furnace performance and to interpret changes in ash property data from a small scale combustor to a large scale utility boiler.