Mathematical Simulation of Plasma-Chemical Coal Conversion

A mathematical model that describes the conversion of a coal-dust flow in a cylindrical plasma reactor is presented. The model describes a two-phase (coal particles + air) chemically reacting flow, which propagates in a channel with or without an internal heat source (an electric arc, a plasmatron torch, or exothermic chemical reactions). The model is based on the assumption that the process is quasi-stationary and one-dimensional; coal particles are taken isothermal, and ash is assumed an inert component. The model represents the composition of coals by their organic and mineral constituents. The model was implemented as a program for personal computers; calculations performed with the use of this program are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data.