Combustion performance and slagging characteristics during co-combustion of Zhundong coal and sludge

Zhundong coal (ZDc) with a very large reserve is faced with severe problems of slagging and fouling during combustion in boilers because of the high-Na content. Sludge, the by-product of urban sewage treatment, is also faced with the problem in utilization. In this study, the co-combustion of ZDc and sludge was investigated in a laboratory-scale experimental apparatus before further studies in larger-scale setups. The experimental results confirm an interaction between ZDc and sludge during co-combustion, which was mainly caused by the Na catalytic action and improved the combustion performance of the co-fuels. The catalytic effect was particularly significant at low sludge mixing ratios. The reactions between Na-based compounds in ZDc and Si/Al/P-rich minerals in sludge, forming high-melting-point phosphates and aluminosilicates, not only increased Na retention in residual ash reducing the risk of fouling on tail-heating surfaces in boilers, but also raised the ash fusibility of the co-fuels avoiding low-temperature sintering. Even so, to prevent slagging, the high combustion temperature above 900 degrees C should be avoided during co-combustion because of the high Na retention in residual ash. Moreover, the high heavy metal retention in residual ash decreased the pollution caused by heavy metal volatilization during sludge combustion. (C) 2017 Energy Institute. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.