Evaluation of reaction mechanisms and emissions of oily sludge and coal co-combustions in O2/CO2 and O2/N2 atmospheres

Oxy-fuel combustion technology presents promising potential for the thermal disposal of hazardous waste to alleviate the global greenhouse effect on the environment and human well-being. In this study, the co-combustion reaction mechanisms and cleaner and efficient performances of oily sludge (OS) and coal in the oxy-fuel (O-2/CO2) and air (O-2/N-2) atmospheres were characterized. With O-2 concentration of 21% and at 20 degrees C/min, the ignition and burnout temperatures of the OS combustion were slightly worse in the oxy-fuel (403 and 531 degrees C) than air (407 and 535 degrees C) atmosphere. The rising O-2 concentration increased the comprehensive combustion characteristic index from 1.11 x 10(-7) to 4.29 x 10(-7) in the air atmosphere and 1.02 x 10(-7) to 4.10 x 10(-7) in the oxy-fuel atmosphere. Based on the master-plots method, the three combustion stages of light oil, heavy oil, and fixed carbon were best described by the three-dimensional diffusion, interfacial reaction, and random nucleation growth models, respectively. The reaction mechanisms were independent of heating rate, O-2 concentration, and atmosphere type. The co-combustion interaction between 70% OS and 30% coal reduced NO and SO2 emissions. Our findings can provide new insights into achieving their cleaner and more efficient co-combustion performance and its operational optimization. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study characterized the co-combustion reaction mechanisms and performances of oily sludge and coal in oxy-fuel and air atmospheres, finding that oxy-fuel combustion slightly worsened the ignition and burnout temperatures compared to air, with increased oxygen concentration enhancing the combustion characteristic index. Using the master-plots method, the three combustion stages were best described by diffusion, interfacial reaction, and random nucleation growth models, independent of heating rate, oxygen concentration, and atmosphere type. Co-combustion of 70% oily sludge and 30% coal reduced NO and SO2 emissions, providing insights for achieving cleaner and more efficient co-combustion performance and operational optimization.