Characteristics of the Solid Fuels for the Plasma Gasification

In this study, characteristics of 6 different fuels which are going to be gasified in a plasma reactor are analyzed. The types of fuels are Russian coal, South Africa coal, Sırnak-Turkey coal, hornbeam sawdust, pine tree sawdust and polyethylene. The characteristics of these fuels are examined by measuring heating values, densities and performing the proximate and ultimate analysis on their composition. The carbon and hydrogen content have a favorable influence on heating value meanwhile, moisture, ash, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur have an adverse effect. This fact is also confirmed by proximate and ultimate analysis. According to the results it is observed that the Russian and South Africa coals have the higher heating values because of their high carbon and hydrogen content. Meanwhile the moisture and volatile matter which are high in sawdust is the cause of reduction in heating values. Polyethylene has the highest heating value in calculation, although it could not be measured directly by a bomb calorimeter.