Use of elemental size distributions in identifying particle formation modes

The chemical composition of particles generated during pulverized coal combustion is the consequence of their formation processes. This work aims to use the size resolved elemental composition of coal-derived particles to identify their formation modes. A size-classified bituminous coal is burnt in a laboratory drop tube furnace at 1150, 1250, and 1350 °C, respectively. The elemental composition of the size-segregated particles from coal combustion is analyzed and the total mass fraction size distributions of Si and Al are obtained. Three particle formation modes are observed in these distribution profiles. The coarse mode has the highest value of the total mass fraction of Si and Al while the ultrafine mode has the lowest one. The total mass fraction of Si and Al in these two modes is nearly independent of particle size. It is believed that the coarse mode is formed by the mineral coalescence mechanism and the ultrafine mode by the vaporization–condensation mechanism. The difference in the total mass fraction of Si and Al between the central mode and the other two indicates that the central mode is formed by different mechanisms. Based on the observation that the total mass fraction of Si and Al in this mode increases with increasing particle size, heterogeneous condensation of vaporized species on existing fine residual ash particles is proposed to account for the formation of these particles. The study of the elemental composition of the three modes represented in five categories verifies the proposed formation mechanisms for them to some extent.