Assessment, development and validation of nitric oxide formation and destruction mechanisms for pulverized coal fired combustion

Williams, Anthony Noel. (2002). Assessment, development and validation of nitric oxide formation and destruction mechanisms for pulverized coal fired combustion PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland.

       
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Author Williams, Anthony Noel.
Thesis Title Assessment, development and validation of nitric oxide formation and destruction mechanisms for pulverized coal fired combustion
School, Centre or Institute School of Engineering
Institution The University of Queensland
Publication date 2002
Thesis type PhD Thesis
Supervisor John Pohl
Total pages 325
Language eng
Subjects 09 Engineering
Formatted abstract Pulverized coal fired combustion is a major contributor to global emissions of nitric oxide (NO). Release of NO into the atmosphere causes toxic NO, reduction of ozone, formation of smog, and reduced visibility. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling of NO emissions from pulverized coal fired boilers offers several benefits including optimisation of boiler operating conditions to minimize NO emissions and development of low NO technology.

Formation of NO within a pulverized coal fired boiler is a complex process, yet simple mechanisms are used to approximate the formation process. CFD modelling of NO formation requires prediction of the
1. nitrogen release rate from coal during devolatilization and char combustion,
2. possibly the type of nitrogen compound released during devolatilization and char combustion,
3. gas phase conversion of nitrogen compounds to NO (including possible NO reduction mechanisms),
4. contributions of thermal and prompt NO, and
5. conversion of char nitrogen to NO.

This thesis assessed currently used models for processes 1-5 for accuracy and reliability in simple systems and CFD modelling. Models for processes 1-5 were improved, if required.

CFD models currently assume the rate of nitrogen release equals a times the carbon release rate, where α equals 1. Laboratory and utility boiler measurements showed that α varies between 0.8 and 1.2. The sensitivity of α to NO emissions should be tested in CFD models for a variety of cases. If NO emissions are sensitive to α, a value of 1.07 is recommended for utility boilers as estimated from utility boiler measurements.

The type of nitrogen compound released during devolatilization and char combustion may affect the reaction kinetics converting nitrogen compounds to NO. Previous laboratory measurements concluded that HCN and NH3 are the major nitrogen compounds released during devolatilization. The most likely compound released during char combustion is NO. The conversion of HCN and NH3 to NO was found to vary in fuel-rich conditions at temperatures between 1200 K and 2000 K. Therefore a NO prediction model should include conversion of HCN and NH3 to NO.

Currently used global kinetic mechanisms were found to inadequately predict NO formation. Commonly used thermal NO mechanisms significantly over-predict NO formation at temperatures greater than 2200 K and long residence times. This trend is not critical in coal-fired systems because maximum temperatures are less than 2000 K. The de Soete mechanism is commonly used to predict the conversion of HCN to NO. This mechanism was found to under-predict NO formation at temperatures less than 1700 K. The de Soete mechanism was adjusted to improve predictions at low temperatures. An investigation into the use of reduced reaction mechanisms found it was not theoretically possible to reduce a comprehensive reaction mechanism to the extent it could be incorporated into a CFD model, and solve within the same simulation time as a CFD model using global kinetics.

An empirical equation was developed that fits the profile of NO formation and HCN destruction. The equations fit NO and HCN profiles across a wide range of conditions. Values of NO and HCN at conditions other than the simulated ones are calculated by interpolation. This mechanism offers an alternative approach to prediction of NO formation by global kinetic mechanisms.

Currently available char nitrogen to NO equations are simple, and do not consider parameters such as char size, temperature and char surface area. Empirical equations were developed to calculate the conversion of char nitrogen to NO given the char size, temperature, O2 concentration, NO concentration, char surface area and intrinsic reactivity.

The accuracy and reliability of NO predictions determined by CFD models was assessed by comparison of model predictions and utility boiler measurements. CFD models were assessed by four criteria including how accurately NO emissions were predicted, how accurately NO profiles and profiles of species important to NO formation within the burner region were predicted, how accurately temperature and O2 concentrations were predicted and how accurately the model predicted trends in NO emissions as combustion conditions changed. The CFD model investigated, Furnace, could not satisfy the set criteria and therefore modelling results should be interpreted carefully. 
Keyword Nitric oxide
Coal, Pulverized
Coal -- Combustion

 
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