Mathematical model of oil shale particle combustion

At first this paper simply introduces the ignition mechanism and combustion characteristics of Huadian oil shale. Combustion behaviour was found to be homogeneous at the beginning of combustion, shifting to heterogeneous combustion in the high-temperature stage; combustible matter was noted to be volatile in the low-temperature stage, but in the high-temperature stage combustible matter included fixed carbon and residual volatile. On the basis of the combustion characteristics of Huadian oil shale, homogeneous and heterogeneous combustion processes of Huadian oil shale are modelled. In the mathematical models, conductive, convective and radiative heat transfer between particles and the surrounding atmosphere, pyrolytic heat and also the heat value of the volatiles are all included in the energy equations; inference of volatile release to particle density is also considered in the models. Thermogravimetric experimental data are used to validate the described models.