Date of Award
5-1-2013
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Wiltowski, Tomasz
Abstract
The effects of mineral and maceral composition on Illinois coal gasification were studied by thermogravimetric analysis and semi-batch reactor. Macerals were separated from coal samples. Samples were manipulated to vary their mineral contents and characterized. TGA gasification experiments were conducted at 1000˚C and atmospheric pressure. The kinetics studied of gasification shows that the gasification involves two different mechanisms: the near zero order kinetics followed by Avrami-Erofe'ev mechanism. Correlation of rate constant and maceral and mineral content was analyzed. Semi-batch reactor gasification studies were performed at 800˚C. The gasification products were analyzed at different steam concentration. Correlation of product yield, steam concentration and mineral content was studied.
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