Distinctive burning characteristics of carbon particles

Several reaction mechanisms exist in the literature for the gasification of char/carbon particles. The general procedure for modelling particle gasification is to assume a mechanism of combustion, obtain the theoretical burning rate and particle temperature, and then validate the mechanism by comparing the results with experimental data. The present work shows that the burning rate and particle temperature are independent of heterogeneous and homogeneous reaction mechanisms and their rate kinetics as long as the oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations at the burning surface are low compared to carbon monoxide (CO) concentration. Experimental data are cited which are in agreement with the model's predictions for both particle temperatures and burning times. The relevance of the results to industrial combustors is discussed.