Experimental and numerical investigation on the pyrolysis of single coarse lignite particles

This paper reports on the mathematical modeling of the pyrolysis of single coarse lignite particles using a kinetics model coupled with a heat transfer model. The parallel reaction kinetics model of the lignite pyrolysis makes no assumptions about the activation energy distribution and the conversion of sub-reactions. The pyrolysis kinetics parameters were obtained on the basis of experimental data from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests. The heat transfer model includes diffusive, convective and radiative heat transfer modes. The experimental investigations were carried out for single lignite particles in an electrically heated reactor. Measurements of the temperature and mass loss were performed during the pyrolysis in a nitrogen atmosphere. The model predictions for the temperature and mass loss histories agree well with the experimental data, verifying that the mathematical model accurately evaluates the pyrolysis of lignite particles. The effects of temperature and particle size on the pyrolysis time and final residual mass fraction were evaluated using the numerical model.