A Simple Theoretical Analysis of the Burn-out Times of an Isothermal Particle of Coal Char Under Air-Firing, Gasification and Oxyfuel Combustion in Fluidised Beds

Coal combustion in air, gasification with carbon dioxide and oxyfuel combustion in oxygen/carbon dioxide mixtures was studied at high process temperatures in a bubbling fluidised bed reactor where burning is controlled by external mass transfer conditions. Theoretical analysis of the burn-out times of an isothermal particle of coal char in air is provided for the case where a fraction of carbon monoxide is oxidized close to the char particle. Burn-out time equations are provided for the gasification of char in carbon dioxide. Both burn-out time equations are compared to analytical equations derived for the oxy-fuel combustion of char particles in oxygen/carbon dioxide mixtures.