Indonesian coal combustion characteristics using TG-DSC Analysis

Selection of coal fuel for coal-fired power plant is usually required to fulfil criteria such as calorific value, combustion characteristics, slagging fouling potential, and emissions potential. This paper describes coal combustion characteristics were studied by the thermogravimetric analyzer and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) using nine raw coal samples from Kalimantan and Sumatra. The coal samples had gross calorific value (as received) of around 3700-5200 kcal/kg. The results of TG-DSC analysis show that SS B Coal has highest reactivity with the lowest maximum rate of combustion (Tmax) which is 337.4℃, at the other hand SS A Coal has lowest reactivity with highest Tmax of 436.0℃. For ignition temperature (Tig), SS B Coal has lowest with 280.7℃ while KS A Coal has highest with 357.1℃. As burnout temperature (Tbo), KS D Coal has highest with 668.4℃ while KT C has lowest with 509.4℃. SS A Coal has smallest interval temperature (Tbo-Tig) with 165.6℃ while KS D Coal has biggest with 371.3℃. Concerning maximum combustion rate (Rmax), KS A, KT B, and KT C Coal has higher rate than six other coals. KS A Coal and SS A Coal are hard to ignite and burn but fastest to be burn out.