MODELING OF COAL PYROLYSIS KINETICS

Four different coals were instantaneously introduced into a laboratory -scale pyrolysis chamber at various temperatures, and their devolatili zation profiles were analyzed with respect to kinetics. The experiment al setup consisted of a gas chromatograph (GC) with a pyrolysis unit, an empty column, and a detector. Detector signals were digitalized and stored for further handling. Normally, 1,024 values were sampled at 2 50 Hz. For deconvolving the true instantaneous devolatilization from t he observed detector response, the residence time distribution was com pensated for. An empirical model approach is developed to correlate th e total devolatilization rates when instantaneously introducing a part icle in a constant temperature environment. The model is also extended to pyrolysis application.