Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

5-1978

Abstract

This study focuses on the devolatilization step that occurs in the process of coal gasification. This is a key economic step for both the Lurgi synthetic natural gas process and the in-situ gasification that are being proposed for New Mexican coals. The findings of this study may be used by industry to improve the design and operation of these processes.

The work presented is an investigation into the transport properties and kinetic parameters that govern the extent of pyrolysis for single particles of subbituminous coal from the San Juan Basin in north-west New Mexico. The unique feature of this work was the design and implementation of a numerical model that addresses the distributive nature of the devolatilization process. Equally important is the fact that the partial differential equations describing the phenomenon have been solved by a non-iterative technique. This feature should allow the incorporation of the model into larger process codes.

Experimental data on intraparticle temperature profiles and particle weight loss as functions of time have been obtained. Comparison of the data and model predictions indicate that the coal has a much higher thermal conductivity than has previously been assumed. The experiments in this study have confirmed the existence of significant temperature gradients in large coal particles during devolatilization. Further, this study confirms the inadequacy of previously derived global reaction rates that results from the use of a non-distributive model.

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Chemical Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Chemical and Biological Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

H. Eric Nuttall Jr.

Second Committee Member

Richard Wilson Mead

Third Committee Member

Chen-Yen Cheng

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