Thermodynamic Modelling of Effect of Flux on the Liquidus Temperatures and Phase transitions in Coal Ash

Abstract

Plant shutdowns due to the accumulation of ash materials in the boilers is a commonly practiced problem in thermal power sectors. Cleaning of ash products at regular intervals need to be necessary for maintaining the good furnace operation conditions. Use of slagging technology is the best practice for the removal of high temperature ash products, in which the melting temperature of ash is lowered by using the additive technology. In this paper, the properties of ash products formed during the combustion of low grade Indian coal were analyzed in terms of proximate and ash fusion temperature analysis. The effect of flux addition on the slagging behavior of Indian coal ash was analyzed. The AFT analysis of Indian origin coal ash shows that it is of non-fusible type. The formation of high temperature stable phases like kaolinite and quartz are the reason for high AFT temperatures in Indian origin coal.