FACTORS INFLUENCING THE TRANSFORMATION OF MINERALS DURING PULVERIZED COAL COMBUSTION

The transformation of minerals and dispersed inorganic constitutents during pulverized coal combustion has been examined by burning utility sized coals (70% less than 200 mesh) in a laboratory-scale combustor. Experiments were conducted with four U.S. coals possessing different mineralogies. Size and composition of the initial minerals and the resulting ash were measured by a variety of techniques, including computer controlled SEM, low temperature ashing, deposition on a cascade impactor, and optical (Malvern) particle size analysis. Results for a Kentucky # 11 coal with a large amount of fine, included silicate minerals suggest that coalescence amongst illite, kaolinite, and quartz minerals was the dominant process, with occasional iron incorporation into the resulting glass. Pyrite was found to fragment to a limited extent. Illinois # 6 bituminous coal, possessing a similar mineralogy, yielded similar results. For a Beulah lignite coal containing large pyrite grains, mineral fragmentation was inferred from the data, increasing with increasing oxygen level. A high ash content San Miguel Texas lignite containing zeolite minerals demonstrated little mineral interaction during combustion. Differences in results obtained for the different coals highlighted the importance of understanding individual mineral transformations in predicting the formation and behavior of ash. © 1990.