Influence of hydrogen enriched gas injection upon polluting emissions from pulverized coal combustion

•Hydrogen enRiched Gas (HRG) injected in the primary coal stream.•Co-combustion pulverized coal-HRG.•Reduction of SO2 emissions through HRG injection.•Variation of sludge chemical composition at various ratios HRG/coal.

This paper presents the experimental results on the pollutant emission of a 2 MW thermal pilot furnace with the injection of hydrogen enriched gas (HRG) into the primary jet (coal dust and primary air). An experimental method to study the effects of this procedure on the thermal pilot furnace, which was specially designed to burn pulverized solid fuel, was conducted. The hydrogen enriched gas used in the study is dried and was produced by an electrolytic system still under patent by the authors. The primary conclusions from the results are focused on the quick diffusion of hydrogen, unlike oxygen, within the coal particles and that the hydrogen forms stable compounds with the sulfur and other elements the sterile content. A primary chemical analysis of the ash/sludge components is also presented within the paper.