Observation of the behavior of coal particles during thermal decomposition

This paper reports on the observed behavior of coal particles during thermal decomposition. The data presented are the first from a study initiated to address both the physical and chemical behavior of pulverized coal from the time of initial heating through the evolution of soot particulate. In the present study, pulverized (high volatile bituminous) coal was injected through a slit centered in a methaneair flat flame burner, and high resolution holography was employed to record the evolution of volatiles and the structure of soot particulate. Volatiles were observed to evolve in a variety of shapes that range from individual jets to uniformly distributed clouds. Coal particle fragments and/or incipient soot nodules (∼ 3 micron) were found to be present within the volatile gases during the evolution. Further from the burner, stringlike soot particles approaching 1600 microns in length were observed. © 1981