Thermogravimetric Analysis of Fuel Blends of Biomass and High-Ash Coal-Containing Waste

An investigation of co-combustion characteristics of the two-component mixed fuel was carried out using methods of thermogravimetric analysis. As feedstock, there were used two types of biomass and the high-ash coal-containing waste, which were ash-slag waste from a coal-fired power plant and coal concentrate obtained by their enrichment. The experiments were carried out in an inert (nitrogen) and oxidizing (air) medium. It is shown, that in the temperature range characteristic for biomass burning the additivity principle cannot be used for evaluation of combustion characteristics of the blends. The presence of a coal-containing component in the mixture leads to a disproportionate decrease in the mass loss rate both in the temperature range characteristic for yield and oxidation of biomass volatile products, and in the temperature range in which its solid residue is oxidized. The effect of biomass on the oxidation rate of the coal-containing component was not found.