A quantitative model of softening coal pryolysis is developed and tested against observed behavior. The model treats intraparticle transport of gases and metaplast throughout the softening stage of pyrolysis via growth of bubbles uniformly dispersed in the molten coal. The model quantitatively describes the transient softening behavior including the initiation, duration, and magnitude of plasticity and swelling of the particle. The model kinetic parameters are derived from experiments, in which a highly softening Pittsburgh No. 8 bituminous coal was pyrolyzed, and total weight loss, and yields and molecular weight distributions of tars and pyridine extractables of cooled chars were measured. Model predictions of effects of pressure, particle diameter and temperature on tar yields and weight losses, of effects of pressure on swelling ratio, and of effects of heating rate on plasticity are presented. The model provides good fits to the laboratory data and predicts trends in pyrolysis behavior in good qualitative accord with expectations based on published data.

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