Coal combustion: Correlation between surface area and thermogravimetric analysis data

A series of coals of different rank has been characterized by surface area measurements performed by sorption of both nitrogen and carbon dioxide. While the data obtained with nitrogen do not discriminate among the different coal samples, those based on carbon dioxide sorption do give a significant distinction between the samples. This technique has also been applied to the determination of the surface area of coal samples quenched after stepwise combustion in air atmosphere. It has been possible to establish a useful correlation between the latter data and the burning profile measured by derivative thermogravimetry. The aim of the present study was to gain a better understanding of the coal combustion process on a laboratory scale which could reasonably be extended to combustion plants. The results presented are relevant to some of the multivalent aspects inherent in the coal combustion process and some valuable information has been gained in respect of characterization of solid fuels.