Investigation on the ash adhesion and deposition behaviors of low-rank coal

•Deposition mass ratios of different low rank coal ashes are different.•Iron content and valence mainly result in the differences in ash deposition characteristics.•Possible formation mechanism of ash deposition was proposed.

The ash adhesion and deposition (AD)characteristics of three low-rank coal (LRC) were investigated by self-made AD analyzer, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray detector, and X-ray diffraction. Under a given condition, the deposition mass ratios of different LRC ashes are different, which mainly due to the difference in iron content. The mass ratios of ash deposition under oxidizing atmospheres are higher than those under reducing atmospheres because of the effects of different valence of iron. The mass ratio of AD increases with the increase of temperature, while it decreases with gas velocity increases. The possible formation mechanism of AD is proposed by adhesive amorphous matter formation, iron enrichment and the generation of ferro-aluminate and ferro-alumino silicate, substitution of Fe2 + by Ca2 +, and mullite adhesion.