Use of thermal analysis and drop tube furnace (DTF) to evaluate the thermal efficiency of mineral coal, sugarcane bagasse and their blends

Abstract

Oxy-fuel Combustion is a promising technology for the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in systems of energy generation. In such processes, the fuel is burnt in an atmosphere rich in oxygen and the recirculation of the effluent gases results in a high CO2 concentration ready to be sequestered.The application of this technique to the co-firing between coal and biomass to produce energy is an attractive process under the an environmental point of view. However it is still a relatively new area and many technical aspects need to be clarified. Fundamental knowledges, such as thermal behavior and kinetics of biomass combustion and its blends with other fuels, are inherent to the development of efficient thechnological processes. This doctoral project aims to study the porous structure of 02 different coals and sugar-cane-bagasse employing both nitrogen and mercury porosimetry, and perform empirical studies of the combustion of these materials and their blends in typical atmospheres of oxy-fuel combustion (CO2 + O2) and conventional atmospheres of combustion (N2+O2).. Experiments will be performed in a drop tube furnace to evaluate CO, CO2. NOx, SO2 and THC emissions and on a Thermogravimetric balance applying Model Free kinetics to determine the kinetic parameters of combustion in the different atmospheres. The physical-chemical characteristics of these materials will be correlated with emissions and kinetic parameters. (AU)