Fast pyrolysis of coal particles in a novel hot plate reactor: Implications of the reaction atmosphere on the reactivity and char chemical structure

Fast pyrolysis of pulverized coals (Highly Volatile Bituminous C-(HVBC) and Semi-anthracites (SA)) were studied in a novel hot plate reactor (HPR). The combined effect of the heating rate (HR) and the reaction environment inside the reactor on chars structure were detailed analyzed. The iso-conversional Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) methodology was utilized to study mass loss during fast pyrolysis of both coals. It was found that, at high HR, the mass loss rate during pyrolysis and the degree of microstructural ordering reached by the chars strongly depend on secondary reactions between carbonaceous structures, the volatiles and the reaction atmosphere.