A model of devolatilization behavior in lignite pyrolysis with solid heat carriers

To elucidate the influence of the process conditions on pyrolytic products, the interactions between transport phenomena and pyrolysis kinetics are quantitatively analyzed at the level of a single coal particle. A comprehensive mathematical model is formulated to predict intraparticle multiphysics and devolatilization behaviors; the model contains two correlative one-dimensional unsteady heat conservation equations and ternary mass conservation equations in conjunction with the simplified dusty-gas model. Moreover, a multistep kinetic model of coal devolatilization is adopted to predict the generating rates of the lumped pyrolytic products. Validation of the model against experimental and literature data showed that can predict the transient temperature profiles of a coal particle and the yields of volatiles. Finally, the effects of the main process conditions on the intra- and extra-temperature history of lignite during pyrolysis with solid heat carriers are analyzed. The interactions between physical transport and the pyrolysis reaction are also examined.