Particle size, porosity and temperature effects on char conversion

The effect of particle size, porosity and reactor temperature/reaction rate constant on the progress of a char particle conversion has been investigated numerically by solving the transport equation inside a reacting char particle. Numerical simulations have been conducted for three cases that include two extreme cases and one general case. The two extreme cases correspond to a very large Damkohler number (3.2607 × 103) and a very small Damkohler number (0.0042). The third case corresponds to an intermediate value of Damkohler number. For the very large Damkohler number case, concentration profiles of the gasifying agent showed a steep gradient across the particle and the reaction occurred mostly in outer layer of the particle. This behavior corresponds to a diffusion controlled process. For the very small Damkohler number case, gasifying agent concentration was a straight line parallel to the x-axis, with a y-axis value of the surrounding concentration. The reaction occurred homogeneously across the particle and the degree of conversion was only a function in time. This behavior corresponds to a chemically controlled process. The total conversion of the char particle as a function of time has also been calculated for different particle sizes, initial porosity and reaction rate constant. Variation in conversion profiles as a function of time due to variation in initial porosity and reaction rate constant were limited to a certain extent. Very high initial porosity values tend to shift the process towards a chemically controlled one; any further increase in porosity does not have a positive effect on the conversion–time relationship. Very high reaction rate constants tend to shift the process towards diffusion controlled process. Kinetic parameters have been determined experimentally using a chemically controlled process. The obtained parameters have been used in the model to determine the progress of char particle conversion at an increased reactor temperature of 1000 °C. The model has been compared to experimental results at the same temperature (1000 °C). The results showed very good agreement.

► Effect of particle size, porosity and temperature on char conversion is investigated.
► Kinetic parameters have been obtained using a chemically controlled experiment.
► Transport equation inside the char particle was solved using finite element method.
► Large Damkohler number resulted in steep gasifying agent concentration profiles.
► Small Damkohler number resulted in constant gasifying agent concentration profile.