The temperature at which coal ash melts has a significant
impact
on the operation of a coal-fired boiler. The coal ash fusion temperature
(AFT) is determined by its chemical composition, although the relationship
between the two varies. Therefore, it is important to have mathematical
models that can reliably predict the coal AFTs when designing coal-based
processes based on their coal ash chemistry and proximate analysis.
A computational intelligence model based on the interrelationships
between coal properties and AFTs was used to predict the AFTs of the
coal investigated. A model that integrates the ash, volatile matter,
fixed carbon contents, and ash chemistry as input and the AFT [softening
temperature, deformation temperature, hemispherical temperature, and
flow temperature] as an output provided the best indicators to predict
AFTs. The findings from the models indicate (a) a method for determining
the AFTs from the coal properties; (b) a reliable technique to calculate
the AFTs by varying the proximate analysis; and (c) a better understanding
of the impact, significance, and interactions of coal properties regarding
the thermal properties of coal ash. This study creates a predictive
model that is easy to use, computer-efficient, and highly accurate
in predicting coal AFTs based on their ash chemistry and proximate
analysis data.