Simultaneous thermogravimetry–calorimetry study on the combustion of coal samples: Effect of heating rate

Combustion characteristics of two different coal samples were investigated using power compensating type differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG–DTG) at different heating rates (5, 10 and 15 °C/min). Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG–DTG) curves revealed two main reaction regions at each heating rate studied. Reaction regions, peak and burn-out temperatures, weight loss and heat of reactions of the samples were determined. Kinetic parameters of the coal samples were also determined by different methods and it was observed that the activation energy values of the coal samples were in the range of 27.2–76.2 kJ/mol for different reaction regions studied.

► It was observed that there was no general trend in the activation energy values from the point of heating rate.
► Peak temperatures are increased as the heating rate is increased.
► It was also observed that heating rates affected the measured heat of reactions of the coal samples studied.