On the Effect of the Distances between Coal and Wood Particles during Their Joint Pyrolysis on Sulfur Oxides Formation

The simultaneous pyrolysis of coal with wood was experimentally found to allow reducing concentrations of sulfur-containing substances in gases released. The objective of experimental studies is comparison of the sulphate of calcium and aluminum in the ash of coal-wood mixtures after pyrolysis of the latter in a dense “packing” of aggregate particles of these two fuels and at a few millimeters distance between particles. The 3B-grade lignite, T-grade bituminous coal and pinewood sawmill waste were chosen as feedstocks for pyrolysis experiments because they are widespread in Russia as well as many other countries. The elemental composition of all raw materials and pyrolysis residues was determined. The inorganic composition of obtained pyrolysis product in the solid phase was characterized by X-ray analysis. The content of aluminum and calcium sulfate in residue in case of simultaneous processing of coal with wood was found to be higher, compared to the processing of coal only (within the random errors of the experiment), than those established for such mixtures under conditions of dense “packing” of large masses (up to 15 g).

Thermo-chemical analysis and modeling of combustion of waste pyrolysis gaseous products

The results of the study of joint pyrolysis of various types of waste (municipal solid waste, plastic waste, etc.) are presented. Preliminarily crushed and dried wastes were fed into the pyrolysis chamber of the model experimental setup. Thermal energy required for heating raw materials and carrying out their thermal destruction was obtained by burning a part of the pyrolysis gases. The rest of these gases were removed from the pyrolysis chamber and cooled. The temperature in the pyrolysis zone was about 650 °C. Plant productivity was up to 500 kg/h. The target product was the liquid phase, which is a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds. When organizing the processes, the yield of solid carbon residue was minimized. The obtained mass ratio of the final gas/liquid products was approximately equal to 1/6. Experimental results of the analysis of the chemical composition of the gas and liquid fractions are presented. The results of modeling the combustion of pyrolysis products at different amounts of supplied air are also shown. The operating parameters at which the optimum temperature level in the pyrolysis zone is maintained are numerically determined and recommended.