Combustion Behavior of Carbon Cenospheres Derived from Pyrolysis of Residual Oil in Furnaces

The combustion behavior of solid carbonaceous particles derived from the pyrolysis of heavy petroleum fuel has been investigated. These particles are generated in residual oil-fired furnaces from pyrolysis of petroleum fuels in the cooler and fuel-rich regions of the furnace. They are large, ash-rich cenospheres that remain unburned in the effluent gases, degrading performance and causing emission problems in utility and industrial furnaces. In order to eliminate the problems related to these residual particles, current research is aimed at (a) the prevention of their formation by improving atomization and evaporation processes[l-3] and (b) oxidative destruction of any formed cenospheres in the combustion chamber by increasing turbulence and mixing, increasing residence time, etc. The results of the investigation described herein are pertinent to the second approach