Abstract
The thermal decomposition of "Taiheiyo" coal was investigated experimentally, using a thermal argon plasma. The thermal plasma was generated by an arc discharge, and the temperature was approximately 10, 000 K. The plasma and fine particles of coal were introduced into an 8 mm-i.d. tube reactor. The conversion to gasified products increased with increased plasma flow rate, and showed a maximum with the variation of input power.
The conversion of a coal particle was estimated by the energy balance. The main assumptions were that the decomposition rate was limited by heat transfer, and that the coal particle decomposed at a constant temperature. The results of this method are in good agreement with those of the experiments. The temperature profile within the particle was evaluated by numerical calculation.
