73. Steam Reforming of Volatiles from Flash Pyrolysis

Abstract

Yallourn brown coal (YL) was pyrolyzed in a drop-tube reactor (DTR) and a Curie-point pyrolyzer (CPP) at temperatures ranging from 823 to 1173K in N_2 stream to evaluate contributions of the secondary reactions of volatiles to the overall pyrolysis. On the other hand, HCl-treated and Fe-loaded YLs were pyrolyzed in the DTR to compare the effects of ion-exchangeable species on the char surface on the progress of steam reforming of volatiles. The experimental results of YL pyrolysis at 1173K clearly revealed occurrence of H_2O formation by the primary reactions and consumption by steam reforming of tar and hydrocarbons in the subsequent secondary reactions. Ion-exchangeable cations were found to catalyze not only steam reforming of volatiles but also gasification of char.