The devolatilization process has important influence on the formation of PM 10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10.0 μm) in oxy-fuel combustion of pulverized coal but has been explored little. A bituminous coal was devolatilized in either CO 2 or N 2 at 1573 K on a drop-tube furnace (DTF) to produce CO 2 -char and N 2 -char. Coal and its char samples were burned at 1573 K and in 29 vol % O 2 /71 vol % CO 2 . PM 10 was collected and segregated into 13 size fractions, which were subjected to subsequent analysis. The results show that the particle mass size distributions of PM 10 from coal and chars have similar peak and trough sizes, suggesting that the devolatilization process has insignificant influence on the major pathways of PM 10 formation. Three particle modes can be identified, i.e., ultrafine mode (<0.5 μm, PM 0.5 ), central mode (0.5− 2.5 μm, PM 0.5−2.5 ), and coarse mode (2.5−10 μm, PM 2.5−10 ). Coal combustion produces more PM 0.5 and PM 0.5−2.5 than char combustion, suggesting that the devolatilization process has important influence on the production of PM 0.5 and PM 0.5−2.5 . In contrast, the PM 2.5−10 yield is insignificantly affected by the devolatilization process under the investigated conditions. In addition, the combustion of CO 2 -char generates more PM 0.5 and PM 0.5−2.5 than that of N 2 -char, indicating that the devolatilization in CO 2 favors the formation of PM 0.5 and PM 0.5−2.5 .
Based on data analysis and interpretation, rough set theory provided data relationships that were objective and interpretable. The method is simple, general, and efficient, and lays the foundation for further applications in other cities.
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