Combustion characteristics and kinetic analysis of biomass char and coal blends

Experimental research on non-isothermal combustion characteristics and dynamic parameters of biomass char and coal blends was conducted with a thermo gravimetric balance. The combustion characteristic parameters such as ignition temperature, peak temperature at maximum weight loss rate, burnout temperature, and maximum combustion rate were studied by thermo-gravimetric analysis. The kinetic parameters of reaction such as activation energy and frequency factor for samples in different ratios were calculated. It is shown that both the activation energy and the frequency factor decrease with increasing biomass char content in the blend and the kinetic compensation effect exists in the two parameters. The combustion of biomass char and coal blends is divided into two stages, corresponding to the regularities of the U-shaped curve and the ladder-shaped curve for activation energy, respectively. Biomass char has more remarkable effect on pyrolysis than charcoal combustion. It is indicated for the calculating results of activation energy that biomass char can improve the ignition property of coal.