Effects of particle morphology and rotational behavior on coal gasification reaction characteristics in an impinging entrained-flow gasifier--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

a Institute of Clean Coal Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
b State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, 030001, China
c State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China

10.1016/j.partic.2026.03.010

Volume 113, June 2026, Pages 164-179

Received 17 November 2025, Revised 26 February 2026, Accepted 6 March 2026, Available online 21 March 2026, Version of Record 4 April 2026.

E-mail: yangong@ecust.edu.cn; gsyu@ecust.edu.cn

Highlights

• An ellipsoidal coal particles motion model is established based on experiment.

• Particle rotation's impact on reaction intensity is greater than that of morphology.

• Ellipsoidal particle shows more high-temperature isothermal surface than sphere one.

• Carbon consumption grows as rotation axis is perpendicular with airflow direction.

Abstract

Investigating the dynamic behavior and reaction mechanism of coal particles in gasifiers is fundamental to advancing gasification technology. Due to the complexity of reaction conditions, a combined experimental and numerical approach is essential for comprehensive analysis. In this study, based on a bench-scale opposed multi-burner coal-water slurry gasifier, the morphology and movement of particles are statistically analyzed. Subsequently, numerical simulation was combined with the results of the hot model experiments, and a realistic physical model of single particles in the gasifier was established to simulate the gasification process and motion behavior of single particles. An ellipsoidal particle model with a simplified rotational motion was developed, to examine the effects of morphology and motion on reaction characteristics. While the volume-averaged temperature differed only slightly between ellipsoidal and spherical particle, the internal temperature distribution was strongly influenced by morphology. However, rotation had a greater impact than morphology. Different rotational behaviors led to varying trends in carbon consumption rates and temperature distributions. Experimentally validated results show that particle rotation induces flame deflection. Investigations on single particle rotation provide quantitative parameters for multi-particle systems, and offer references for particle residence time and its distribution in the gasifier. This study provides microscopic quantitative support for building high-precision detailed full-furnace models, lay a scientific foundation for the optimal design of industrial gasifiers, and ultimately improve the accuracy and engineering applicability of overall simulations.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Numerical simulation; Entrained-flow gasification; Particle behavior; Particle reaction; Gas-solid surface reaction

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