Mechanisms and optimization of coal combustion. Semiannual report, November 1, 1998--April 30, 1999

The effects of process conditions on the reactivity of Illinois No.6 coal in the kinetic and diffusion control regime were studied using new sequential combustion procedures. Reactivity patterns in the kinetic controlled regime were not influenced by the pyrolysis heating rates. Results presented in the previous DOE report have shown, however, that combustion rates were significantly affected by the pyrolysis heating rates at reaction temperatures higher than 550 C. These results establish the importance of the macropore structure of chars in determining their combustion rates under conditions leading to significant intraparticle diffusional limitations