Single particle combustion studies of coal/biomass fuel mixtures

Single particle combustion behaviours of coal-biomass fuel mixtures are studied. Different biomass i.e. sawdust, wood and rice husk is blended with locally available low grade coal to carry out the experimental investigation. The combustion of solid fuel consists of flaming combustion and char combustion. Rice husk showed higher flaming time and char glowing time because of higher ash and particle density. The burning time of coal-rice husk mixture fuel sample is higher compared to other samples due to the combine effect of particle density and ash content of the fuel samples. Ignition mass flux of saw dust is higher compared to rice husk and wood fuel particles because of the presence of higher volatiles in sawdust. The diameter index for flaming combustion, char combustion are 1.13 to 0.47 and 0.63 to 1.23 respectively for 0%-40% coal in coal/wood fuel mixtures. It is observed that with the increases in surface area/volume ratio, flaming and char combustion decreases due to reduction in effective surface area of the particle for combustion. This study concludes that particle size or surface area/volume together with particle density are the primary controlling parameter for better conversion of fuel mixtures in any co-combustion system. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study investigated single particle combustion behaviors of coal-biomass fuel mixtures, showing that rice husk had the longest burning time due to its higher ash content and particle density. Sawdust had a higher ignition mass flux compared to rice husk and wood particles, attributed to its higher volatile content. The primary controlling parameters for fuel conversion in co-combustion systems were found to be particle size, surface area/volume, and particle density.