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Comparison Study on Combustion Characteristics between Semicoke and Coke Breeze

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Abstract

The iron and steel industry is a major emitter of pollutant gases into the atmosphere, thus greatly affecting the quality of the environment. It is therefore imperative to find alternative means of reducing the pollutant gases emitted into the atmosphere through sintering activities in the iron and steel industry. This study focuses on semicoke as an alternative sinter fuel to replace coal, coke breeze and other fuels used in iron ore sintering. Specifically, comparison between semicoke and coke breeze was made with respect to their combustion characteristics and combustion efficiency. Investigations were made based on drop tube furnace test results, thermogravimetric analyses and optical microscopy. The chemical kinetics governing the combustion mechanism of semicoke and coke breeze were also investigated. Semicoke was high in volatile, hydrogen, net calorific value and oxygen content. The relatively high volatile content, low ignition and heating temperatures, high combustion index and combustion efficiency of semicoke makes semicoke a better alternative fuel to power sinter plants. Consequently, among the semicoke sample types employed in the study, SC2 semicoke showed high combustion characteristics. This study is relevant in the iron and steel industry as it investigates the validity of combustion efficiency of semicoke.

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Funding

This research is financially supported by the Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Coal Conversion and New Carbon Materials (grant no. WKDM202007) and Hubei Technological Innovation Special Fund (Grant no. 2020ZYYD019). The support of Nangang Industry Development Co. Ltd is also appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology (College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering), Wuhan University of Science and Technology, 430081, Wuhan, China

    Alex Kojo Acquah, Hongming Fang, Shijie Wang & Xiaoxiong Wu

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  1. Alex Kojo Acquah
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  2. Hongming Fang
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  3. Shijie Wang
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  4. Xiaoxiong Wu
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Correspondence to Alex Kojo Acquah, Hongming Fang, Shijie Wang or Xiaoxiong Wu.

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Alex Kojo Acquah, Fang, H., Wang, S. et al. Comparison Study on Combustion Characteristics between Semicoke and Coke Breeze. Coke Chem. 64, 407–416 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068364X21090027

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068364X21090027

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