Evaluation on explosibility of pulverized coal in air atmosphere based on functional group structure analysis

Abstract Explosion performance of single bituminous pulverized coals (PCs) and interaction between anthracite (AT) and bituminite (BT) in blends with various anthracite proportions were studied by measuring the length of backflow flame. The results indicated that explosibility of BTs was closely related to its functional group structure, while the influence of volatile content on explosibility of PCs was insignificant. Aliphatic hydrocarbons were observed to be more explosive comparing to aromatic hydrocarbons, while the reaction behavior of char was also dominant during the explosion of PC. Besides, the high heating value of char in BTs ranged from 29 and 30 kJ/g, while that of anthracite was decreased after pyrolysis for the volatile matters in anthracite were of higher heating value. The kinetic analysis based on random pore model implied that the activation energy of volatile was closely related to the value of apparent aromaticity, while the condensation degree of aromatic hydrocarbons was more critical for that of char. The decomposition of light volatiles would just lead to the formation of penetrating cracks, while the decomposition and oxidation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were destructive to the microstructure of PC particle.