Mechanism of primary fragmentation of coal in fluidized bed

Abstract

In order to lay a foundation of a credible primary fragmentation model, a theoretical analysis of the thermo-mechanical processes in a devolatilizing solid fuel particle was carried out. The devolatilization model comprises heat transfer, chemical processes of generation of gaseous products of combustion (volatiles), volatile transfer, and solid mechanic processes. A spatial and temporal analysis of the stresses within the particle showed that the radial stress is caused primarily by the pressure of generated volatiles. This stress monotonously decreases from the particle center towards the particle surface, without changing its sign. The tangential stress is caused primarily by the thermal shock. Close to the surface, it changes its sign. In the particle cross-section, the radial stress prevails close to the particle center, whilst the tangential stress is dominant in the surface region. At the points where these stresses exceed the particle tensile strength, cracks occur. Cracks extend tangentially close to the surface, and radially close to the center of the particle.