COMPARISON OF COAL PYROLYSIS PRODUCT DISTRIBUTIONS FROM 3 CAPTIVE SAMPLE TECHNIQUES

Pyrolysis tar and char yields were measured at atmospheric pressure between 400-800 °C in three reactors with significantly different design characteristics: a fluidized bed; a wire-mesh reactor; and a 'hot-rod' fixed bed reactor. Ranges of conditions under which results were generally in good agreement were identified using a common sample of Linby (low rank British bituminous) coal. Differences highlighted important non-ideal characteristics in the behaviour of all three systems. The causes of these non-idealities and their implications for the interpretation of pyrolysis data from the three types of reactors are discussed in detail. © 1990.