Investigations on Crystallization Processes of Three Oxidic Gasifier Slag Systems

In entrained flow gasifiers, the production of oxidic slag accompanies the gasification process. This slag forms a layer on the refractory walls, flows downwards gravitationally, and is collected in a water quench. Hence, the slag flow must be constant, since a slag blockage represents a worst-case-scenario. Crystallization of the slag increases slag viscosity, subsequently leading to a possible slag blockage. Therefore, crystallization processes in oxidic slags need to be understood and hence investigated. In this study, three artificial, coal ash related oxidic slag systems were analyzed on their crystallization behavior. Therefore, their melt behavior was investigated via hot-stage microscopy and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Additional thermochemical calculations were performed to predict crystallized phases. Subsequently, quenching experiments were conducted to generate supercooled crystallization in the slag samples. These samples were analyzed afterward via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the morphologies of crystals were characterized/described. In-situ observations on crystallization growth were performed by using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Finally, crystallized phases were compared with results obtained from thermochemical calculations, and the impact of kinetics on the distributed phases was discussed. The knowledge on the crystallization behavior of various phases can be transferred to other slag systems and can improve general crystallization predictions made by thermochemical calculations.