Abstract
Thermal analytical technique as a tool to predict combustion behavior of coals has been developed and evaluated by several persons. They used derivative thermograviometric analysis (dTGA) to characterize and predict oxidation behavior of solid fuels by heating them at a fixed rate in an air atmosphere and recording the rate of weight change. A plot of the rate of weight loss as a function of furnace temperature has been termed a burning profile or a combustion profile. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) measured the temperature at which the fuel sample began to give off heat and identified the position of the burning profile representing oxidation.
In present paper, application of the technique to low grade fuels was evaluated. Samples were Bunker C fuel oil, Vacuum residual oil, Visbreaking oil, FCC oil and Coal-oil mixture.
Results showed that each fuel had its proper burning profile and by comparing it with the profile of well known fuel, combustion characteristics in practical use of new fuel was possible to predict.
