Bubbling fluidized bed and oven drying for Turkish coal: a comparative study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to compare the changes in the heating value of Turkish coal (Konya-Ilgın) with bubbling fluidized bed drying (BFBD) and oven drying (OD). The changes mentioned at three different temperatures (80-95-110°C) and different moisture contents were investigated. In the tests carried out at three different temperatures using BFBD system, coal drying for 60 minutes produced the dried coal samples with the calorific value of 6300 kcal/kg at 80°C. As a result, a calorific value increase of approximately 53.7% based on initial value was achieved. In the OD system, it increased to 4600 kcal/kg under the same conditions, and at 110°C this value increased to 5250 kcal/kg. This means a 28.0% calorie increase. In the BFBD system, at this temperature value, it reached 6450 kcal/kg, an increase of 57.3% compared to the initial caloric value. Coal drying for 60 minutes produced the dried coal samples with the moisture content 8.9% by BFBD at 80°C. As a result, a moisture decrease of approximately 4.40 times based on initial value was achieved. Under the same conditions, the moisture reduction for OD was 1.33 times. When the temperature value reached 110°C, only a 3.07 times decrease in humidity could be achieved.

KEYWORDS:

• Turkish coal
• oven drying
• bubbling fluidized-bed drying
• calorie changes

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful like to Prof. Dr. Öner Yusuf Toraman, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Prof. Dr. Harun Bilirgen, TABi Engineering and Energy Technologies, ITU Istanbul and Erdoğan Şimşek, Lecturer, Çukurova University Adana Vocational School, for their contributions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).