An Empirical Correlation between Char Gasification Reactivity and Its Parent Coal

Abstract

The reactivity of 16 coal chars of varying rank with CO2 and H2O was determined to examine the effects of fixed carbon, ash, and volatile matters of raw coal on the gasification reactivity of coal chars. An empirical correlation between the gasification reactivity of coal particles and coal types was presented. A general index, Rc, which was used to indicate the gasification reactivity of coals with CO2 and H2O, is presented. Rc only depends on the proximate analysis and ash composition of coal and reflects the gasification behavior in a combined way, so Rc is called the gasification characteristic index of coal. It is a very useful parameter for engineers and operators to use in predicting the reactivity of different types of coals. The difference between the reactivity indexes (R) of CO2 and H2O in gasification can be reflected by Rc. The lower the value of Rc, the greater the difference between the R and R gasification reactivity.