Chemical and Thermochemical Properties of Heavy Molecular Weight Hydrocarbons Evolved During Rapid Heating of Coal of Varying Rank Characteristics

ABSTRACT

The evolution phenomenology, yields, chemical, and thermochemical properties of heavy hydrocarbons, tars, evolved from a wide range of coal types are presented. Coals varying in rank characteristics from lignite to anthracite were rapidly heated to varying extents of devolatilization, the tars isolated from the char stream and subjected lo chemical and thermochemical analysis. Systematic variations in the yields, chemical characteristics, thermophysical and thermochemical properties are observed for a given extent of tar evolution from coals of varying rank. Systematic variations are also observed for a given extent of tar evolution from coals of varying rank. Systematic variations are also observed for a given coal but with changing extents of devolatilization. Despite significant variation in the molecular types, yields and temperature-sensitivity of heavy hydrocarbons with coal type, underlying invariances are observed in the evolution sequence of parent coal nitrogen, volatility, functional group distributions, and calorific values of evolved tar species as a function of extent of tar evolution

Key Words:

• Devolatilization
• Pyrolysis
• Fuel Bound Nitrogen
• Calorific Values
• Volatility
• Heating Condition Effects