# Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant Performance

Authors: Rajive Ganguli; Sukumar Bandopadhyay
Journal: Journal of Combustion
 (2012)

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## Abstract

The impact of particle size distribution (PSD) of pulverized, low rank high volatile content Alaska coal on combustion related power plant performance was studied in a series of field scale tests.  Performance was gauged through efficiency (ratio of megawatt generated to energy consumed as coal), emissions (SO2, NOx, CO), and carbon content of ash (fly ash and bottom ash).  The study revealed that the tested coal could be burned at a grind as coarse as 50% passing 76 microns, with no deleterious impact on power generation and emissions.  The PSD’s tested in this study were in the range of 41 to 81 percent passing 76 microns.  There was negligible correlation between PSD and the followings factors: efficiency, SO2, NOx, and CO. Additionally, two tests where stack mercury (Hg) data was collected, did not demonstrate any real difference in Hg emissions with PSD. The results from the field tests positively impacts pulverized coal power plants that burn low rank high volatile content coals (such as Powder River Basin coal). These plants can potentially reduce in-plant load by grinding the coal less (without impacting plant performance on emissions and efficiency) and thereby, increasing their marketability.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Despite containing an estimated 5 trillion tons of a variety of coal [1], Alaska has only one operating coal mine, the Usibelli Coal Mine. The low-rank, high-volatile content coal produced by the mine has a low grindability, as indicated by its hardgrove grindability index (HGI). This can be an issue for the salability of the coal since power plants prefer coals that are easy to grind. A possible mitigation for the low grindability is less grinding, if the coal could be burned at a coarser grind without impacting power plant performance.The rank and volatility of the coal are key to combustion. As many researchers agree, the lower the rank of coal, the more reactive it is [2–4]. The authors in [5] also found that rank influenced combustion properties of pulverized coal more than the maceral composition. In addition to the rank, [6] found that the quantity of volatile matter also impacted the ignition of the volatile matter, though there was no correlation between the actual content of the volatile matter and the ignition behavior [4, 7]. Additionally and directly relevant to this paper are the findings by [8, 9], who studied pulverized coal combustion of the low-rank high-volatile UCM coal to explore if it could be burned at a coarser particle size distribution (PSD) than the industry standard of 65–70% passing 76 microns (200 mesh). Both reported encouraging results. In this paper, the PSD is quoted in percentage passing 76 microns (200 mesh), similar to what is done in the power industry.The preliminary study by [9] preceded the more detailed tests conducted for this paper. His study consisted of two tests, one at an average PSD of 42% and the other at an average PSD of 49%. Each test in the preliminary study resulted in 24 samples (six samples per pipe—description in the next section); thus, the reported PSDs were averages of 24 samples. Multiple PSD samples were taken (according to the ASTM D-197 method) in each of the 3 hr long tests. The test (major details from [9] are reproduced below for helping the reader) showed that there was no difference in electricity generation (in megawatts or MW). Following the proof of concept that the coal could be burned at coarser PSD without loss in power generation, a detailed study was undertaken to include important aspects such as repeatability of results, impact of quality of feed coal, impact on emissions, and carbon content of fly ash and bottom ash. This paper presents the results of the detailed tests. Note that additional information and data from the tests can be obtained from a publicly available report [10]. The implications of the study are important; though Alaska low-rank coal is burnt in very few plants, similar coals (such as those burning coals Powder River Basin in the United States) are burned in a significant number of plants worldwide.


## 2. Description of Tests and Sampling

The detailed tests were similar to what was done in [9], except that in these tests a lot more data was collected. The data collected in the 24 detailed tests, also conducted in Golden Valley Electric Association’s Healy 28 MW Unit no. 1 as in [9], included (in addition to MW generated) raw feed coal quality, pulverized feed coal quality and PSD, fly ash and bottom ash characteristics, and emissions measurements. Figure 1 shows a schematic of the power plant.Figure 1
Mill (pulverizer) and combustion chamber layout (after [2]).Two Foster Wheeler MBF 19.5 mills, A and B, ground the raw feed coal into pulverized coal. The mills are air swept; that is, the pulverized coal is carried by air at 65.6°C (150 F) to the combustion chamber through the four pipes A1, A2, B1, and B2. The grind size is altered by increasing or decreasing the air flow through the mill or by opening/closing the mill “classifiers.” Each of the four pipes has a sampling port that was used for sampling pulverized coal. While most of the pulverized coal samples were collected by ASTM D-197 method, some samples were collected using ISO 9931 by a contractor. The reason for the change was that the research team damaged its sampling probe and had to hire a third party to collect the pulverized coal samples. Multiple pulverized coal samples were collected from each pipe during a test (typically 3 hours long) so that the PSD was representative of the duration of the test. As in [8], validity of PSD sampling was verified using the Rosin-Ramler (RR) plots. The particle size, at which 36.8% of the flow is retained on the screen, or the k value was estimated from the plots. The k values for Tests 3 to 20 averaged about 100 microns, while those of Tests 21–26 averaged 56 microns. Tests 1 and 2 are from the preliminary study [9].The raw coal samples were collected from the feed stream of the two mills A and B. The data collected from the raw coal feed included proximate analysis and HGI. The data collected from the pulverized coal included PSD and proximate analysis. The fly ash and bottom ash were sampled for unburned carbon. The fly ash was sampled from fabric filters (bag houses), while the bottom ash was sampled from the bottom of the combustion chamber. Collecting representative bottom ash samples was very difficult as the bottom ash chamber was not designed for sampling. The flaming ash chamber had to be flooded, and the ash sample collected quickly as it left the chamber, while flames shot out of the open door from where the sample was collected. Additionally, the stack emissions were sampled (by a contractor) for Hg using the Ontario Hydro Method in two of the tests. Data on NOx, SOx, and CO were obtained using automated continuous emissions monitoring system from stack gases exiting the plant. Emissions controls in the plant consisted of fabric filters (bag houses) only. There were no wet scrubbers.The PSD of the pulverized coal being burned is never known in real time. The plant operators manipulated the mill classifier vanes and primary air flow to increase or decrease the fineness of the grind. The vane and primary air flow were set at least two hours prior to a test to ensure stability of the grind during the test. The operating PSD for a test was only known after several weeks of the test. It was very difficult to run the plant at the settings required for some of the finer grinds. Therefore, the reader will notice very few tests at PSD finer than 65%.


## 3. Results and Discussion

The data from the tests are shown in Tables1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Tests 1 and 2 in the tables are from [9]. The reader will notice gaps in some data. Budgetary constraints in some years determined what data was collected, with only data that was central to the project being always collected.Table 1
Raw coal quality data (as received).
AshMoistureVolatileSulfurFixed carbonkJ/kg (BTU/lb)HGI*Test 311.727.234.30.2126.916,907 (7275)34Test 410.228.734.30.1926.816,865 (7257)31Test 511.925.235.20.2227.717,309 (7448)31Test 632Test 733Test 831Test 912.727.531.20.2028.316,331 (7027)37Test 1012.227.431.70.1928.716,479 (7091)34Test 1111.827.532.20.1928.516,633 (7157)36Test 1212.327.532.00.2128.216,461 (7083)36Test 1313.527.531.30.2127.816,349 (7035)36Test 1412.327.031.60.2229.216,747 (7206)34Test 1511.427.332.40.2228.916,954 (7295)32Test 1612.727.132.30.2128.016,540 (7117)33Test 1714.027.231.70.1927.135Test 1813.927.232.30.1926.735Test 1913.626.632.30.2027.536Test 2012.326.133.10.1828.536Test 2114.128.230.80.2027.040Test 2212.828.331.20.2027.740Test 2313.829.332.50.2124.539Test 2413.331.331.80.2023.637Test 2511.437.229.50.1821.835Test 2613.429.033.20.2024.436*Hardgrove grindability index.Table 2
Data on pulverized coal (as received).
PSD76Pulverized coalAshMoistureVolatilekJ/kg (BTU/lb)Fixed carbonSulfurTest 14915.814.138.719,094 (8216)31.4Test 24214.112.939.220,026 (8617)33.9Test 34613.815.64019,329 (8317)30.50.26Test 44812.916.74019,324 (8315)30.40.24Test 548131640.419,552 (8413)30.70.25Test 65011.119.937.618,838 (8106)31.40.23Test 75211.618.437.719,096 (8217)32.70.24Test 84610.318.537.919,296 (8303)33.30.23Test 95513.617.536.318,564 (7988)32.60.24Test 105414.313.338.819,640 (8451)33.90.24Test 115214.113.13819,856 (8544)34.90.24Test 124614.212.538.220,038 (8622)35.20.24Test 135115.515.536.718,941 (8150)32.30.25Test 145214.915.337.419,236 (8277)32.50.27Test 155214.51537.619,310 (8309)32.90.26Test 165116.115.23718,766 (8075)31.70.24Test 174615.615.139.919,868 (8162)29.4Test 184916.213.43919,154 (8242)31.4Test 194815.612.939.319,459 (8373)32.2Test 205015.813.138.919,347 (8325)32.2Test 216615.117.937.418,357 (7899)29.6Test 227016.514.936.718,917 (8140)31.9Test 237513.917.93919,029 (8188)29.2Test 246713.218.540.318,957 (8157)28.1Test 257814.91838.118,671 (8034)29.1Test 268116.316.937.818,713 (8052)29Table 3
Carbon content (dry basis) of fly ash and bottom ash.
Carbon in fly ash (%)Carbon in bottom ash (%)Test 33.618.1Test 43.14.6Test 54.122.6Test 63.117.4Test 72.622.3Test 82.725.4Test 93.65Test 103.75.9Test 113.73.5Test 124.24.3Test 132.86.9Test 143—Test 153.43.4Test 163.24.4Test 171.93.6Test 181.93.6Test 192.65.8Test 202.65.8Test 212.41.9Test 222.50.9Test 231.24.3Test 241.37.1Test 2513.2Test 260.85.2Table 4
Stack gas emissions data.
SO2 (ppm)NOx (ppm)CO (ppm)CO2 (%)Test 311316481711.3Test 4104158142311.2Test 5113175147410.6Test 612015193711.9Test 711915091811.9Test 813115779711.8Test 9121147165411.6Test 10107145270811.7Test 11115149177911.3Test 12121150172511.4Test 13120153130011.8Test 14129156271511.8Test 1510716556111.3Test 16119168199011.7Test 1711416536311.2Test 1811516641111.3Test 1910716148311.4Test 2014416454911.5Test 2113715932112.9Test 2213515371812.5Test 23112134109612.3Test 24123136148912.4Test 2513315422112.4Test 2613615620112.5Table 5
Efficiencies for the various tests.
PSD76EfficiencyTest 1490.2299Test 2420.2305Test 3460.231Test 4480.222Test 5480.225Test 6500.238Test 7520.224Test 8460.236Test 9550.240Test 10540.230Test 11520.229Test 12460.226Test 13510.228Test 14520.228Test 15520.230Test 16510.229Test 17460.236Test 18490.232Test 19480.232Test 20500.233Test 21660.244Test 22700.236Test 23750.2323Test 24670.2342Test 25780.2406Test 26810.2377Table 6
Coal flow rate and MW generated.
Coal flow rate kg/hrMean MW generatedTest 322,61528.12Test 423,70928.29Test 522,82827.92Test 622,85028.47Test 723,78028.24Test 822,46028.45Test 922,77828.28Test 1022,50528.33Test 1122,37728.26Test 1222,42928.29Test 1323,34628.11Test 1423,08428.11Test 1522,72928.07Test 1623,46628.03Test 1722,63528.14Test 1822,71928.05Test 1922,27928.04Test 2022,36527.99Test 2122,76128.41Test 2222,96728.55Test 2322,66327.88Test 2422,72128.06Test 2522,46528.07Test 2622,68828.05Table 7
Hg emissions through the stack.
Hg, kg/hr (lb/hr)Hg type (percent of total)Particle boundOxidizedElementalTest 230.0004080.1934.0365.78(PSD = 75)(0.000760)Test 240.0003000.6614.0285.31(PSD = 67)(0.000663)Figure2 (same data as Table 5) shows the relationship between the PSD and efficiency. The efficiency was computed as the ratio of energy generated (from MW data in Table 6) to energy burned (computed from pulverized coal data, Table 2, and coal mass flow data, Table 6). The plot, which includes data from the two tests from [9], shows a negligible correlation between PSD and efficiency. However, it also shows clustering in the data due the formation of two clusters that could be named the coarser grind tests and the finer grind tests, depending on whether they were coarser than a PSD of 60 or not. This is quite convenient for the purpose of this research since it allows the two clusters to be compared. The coarse grind group consisted of 20 tests (Tests 1–20), with an average (and statistically different from the fine group) PSD of 50% compared to only 6 tests (Tests 21–26) with an average PSD of 73% for the fine group. Table 8 summarizes the difference between the major results of the two groups of tests, while Table 9 summarizes the difference between the feed coal quality for the two groups. Note that the t-test was used to test significance when the data was normally distributed. Otherwise, the Mann-Whitney test was used. Sometimes these statistical tests were not possible if the data did not meet the criteria for the tests. The data shown in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 were used for the various statistics. For example, the efficiencies for the coarse group (Tests 1–20 in Table 5) average 23.05%, while the fine group (Tests 21–26 in Table 5) average 23.75%. The difference in efficiency is statistically significant as reported in Table 8.Table 8
Difference in results between the two groups of tests.
Averaget-statisticSignificant difference?CoarserFinerEfficiency0.23050.23753.44YesUnburned carbon (fly ash)3.11.534.6YesUnburned carbon (bottom ash)9.63.8N/AN/ASO21181292.5YesNOx1581491.9NoCO12566742.1NoTable 9
Difference between the feed coal (pulverized, as received) quality for the two groups of tests.
Averaget-statisticSignificant* difference?CoarserFinerAsh (%)14.1514.981.28NoVolatile content (%)38.4338.220.37NoVolatile contentRC (%)32.531.51.66NoMoisture (%)15.217.35N/AN/AMoistureRC  (%)27.130.6MWTYesHeat Val, kJ/kg (BTU)19,337 (8320)18,774 (8078)4.1YesFixed carbon content32.329.5N/AN/AHGI3437.83.8Yes*At 95% confidence, RC: raw coal, MWT: Mann-Whitney test [11].Figure 2
Negligible correlation between PSD and efficiency.The results show a difference in efficiency between the two groups of tests. However, it is very small and could simply be due to the small number of samples in the finer grind group. The test with the highest efficiency (0.244 at a PSD of 66) was in this group. Additionally, 7 out of the 20 tests in the coarse group had efficiencies that could be in the finer grind group. The coal quality in the two groups does not provide a clear explanation for this difference. However, that is to be expected since coal quality and combustion are typically not directly related [12].The difference in the carbon content in fly ash and bottom ash between the two groups would normally be explained as higher loss of carbon from coarse grind combustion. However, [8] reported that low-rank high-volatile content Alaska coal results in complete burn out even for very coarse grinds. Therefore, given the small magnitude of difference, the higher carbon content in fly ash and bottom is explained by the higher fixed carbon content of coals in the coarse grind group. This is because the difference in fixed carbon content of feed coal applies to the entire tons burned, whereas the difference in carbon content of ash applies to only 15% of the tons burned (since ash constitutes about 15% of the weight in both groups). Note that conclusions on bottom ash should be made with a caveat: bottom ash sampling conditions were very challenging and could have impacted bottom ash values. This may explain why bottom ash carbon values are significantly higher than fly ash carbon values in Table 3 for some tests.NOx and CO do not appear to be impacted by PSD (Table 1, and Figures 3 and 4). Both demonstrate significant variability within each test condition. NOx formation originates with the production of NO, which is formed when the nitrogen in coal or air reacts with oxygen. The authors in [13, 14] have identified three mechanisms for the initial formation of NO, thermal NO, prompt NO, and fuel NO. Thermal NO occurs at very high temperatures when molecular nitrogen combines with oxygen. When the coal contains very little nitrogen, the NO created by this mechanism becomes a significant proportion of the total NO created. Prompt NO occurs when molecular nitrogen combines with hydrocarbons. It, however, forms only a small portion of the total NO formed. Fuel NO, as the name implies, is formed from the nitrogen in the coal and constitutes most of the NO formed. Therefore, the amount of fuel NO formed is highly dependent on the amount of nitrogen in the coal. Thus, since the factors that impact NO generation do not change between the two test groups, there should be no difference in the NOx generation. Hence, the obtained results are in line with NOx generation fundamentals.Figure 3
PSD versus CO.Figure 4
PSD versus NOx.CO generation in pulverized coal plants is usually not an issue because of thorough mixture of coal particles and oxygen [12]. Coal reactivity, however, can be a factor in CO generation [15], as can excess air be [12]. Neither the reactivity (indicated by volatile content) nor the nature of combustion (including operational factors such as oxygen supply [10]) has changed between the two groups of tests, providing no reason for a difference in CO generation.SO2 varied somewhat significantly under both test conditions. It seems to be higher for the finer group (Table 8) even though it is not correlated with PSD (Figure 5). The authors in [16] suggested that oxygen concentration, sulfur content, and temperature impacted SO2 production. The sulfur content of feed coal was not the reason for the difference between the SO2 contents of the two groups (see Table 1 for sulfur data) since both groups had an average sulfur content of 0.2. Moisture was explored as a potential reason (since it can contribute oxygen), but it was not found to be correlated to the SO2 content (Figure 5). The higher SO2 content of the finer ground tests could also be explained as due to the low number of samples in that group, though that argument is tenuous given that 4 of the 6 tests had a SO2 concentration above 130, while only 2 out of the 20 tests in the coarse group met that criterion.Figure 5
PSD versus SO2 (ppm).The Hg emissions from stack were also studied, though, due to budgetary constraints, Hg data was collected in only two tests. These two tests were conducted one after the other to minimize variance in feed coal quality. Just based on those two tests, it did not seem that the PSD had any impact on Hg emissions. Hg emissions were very low (close to detection limits) in both tests.


## 4. Conclusions

The broad conclusions from the 26 field tests (including the two in [9]) are as follows. (1)
The plant efficiency was about the same (between 23 and 24%) across the particle size distributions.(2)
SO2, CO, and NOx levels were essentially the same between the groups, though they varied significantly within each test group. The range was higher for CO for the coarse group.(3)
Hg emissions were too low to differentiate between the two groups.Many pulverized coal plants around the world burn low-rank high-volatile coals, either wholly or in blends. Given the field tested conclusions, these plants could experiment with coarser grinds to extract benefits of coarse grinding-reduced in-plant power consumption and increased coal throughput. For the coal producer, it improves the marketability of their coal.



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*Source: 786920-2012-04-24.xml*