Effect of Volatile Matter and Oxygen Concentration on Tar and Soot Yield Depending on Coal Type in a Laminar Flow Reactor

− This study was performed by using an LFR (laminar flow reactor), which can be used to carry out different types of research on coal. In this study, an LFR was used to analyze coal flames, tar and soot yields, and structures of chars for two coals depending on their volatile content. The results show that the volatile content and oxygen concentration have a significant effect on the length and width of the soot cloud and that the length and width of the cloud under combustion conditions are less than those under a pyrolysis atmosphere. At sampling heights until 50 mm, the tar and soot yields of Berau (sub-bituminous) coal, which contains a large amount of volatile matter, are less than those of Glencore A.P. (bituminous) coal because tar is oxidized by the intrinsic oxygen component of coal and by radicals such as OH-. On the other hand, at sampling heights above 50 mm, the tar and soot yields of Berau coal are higher than those of Glencore A.P. coal by reacted residual volatile matter, tar and light gas in char and flame. With above results, it is confirmed that the volatile matter content and the intrinsic oxygen component in a coal are significant parameters for length To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: chjeon@pusan.ac.kr LFR 1035 Korean Chem. Eng. Res., Vol. 50, No. 6, December, 2012 and width of the soot cloud and yields of the soot. In addition, the B.E.T. results and the images of samples (SEM) obtained from the particle separation system of the sampling probe support the above results pertaining to the yields; the results also confirm the pore development on the char surface caused by devolatilization.