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Study on Combustion and NO x Emission Characteristics of Low-Quality Coal with Wide Load Based on Fuel Modification

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  • Hongliang Ding

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Shuyun Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Ziqu Ouyang

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Shujun Zhu

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Xiongwei Zeng

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Hongshuai Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Kun Su

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Zhaoyang Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Enhancing the operational flexibility and environmental performance of coal-fired boilers under wide-load conditions presents a critical challenge in China’s low-carbon transition, particularly for low-quality coals (LQCs) with abundant reserves, poor combustibility, and high NO x emissions. To overcome the intrinsically low reactivity of LQC, peak-shaving performance and combustion behavior were systematically investigated on an MW-grade pilot-scale test platform employing the fuel modification strategy in this study. Stable fuel modification was achieved without any auxiliary energy for LQCs and Shenmu bituminous coal (SBC) across a load range of 20~83% and 26~88%, respectively, demonstrating the excellent fuel reactivity and strengthened release control of volatile and nitrogenous species. The modified LQC exhibited ignition, combustion, and burnout characteristics comparable to Shouyang lean coal (SLC), enabling a “dimensionality-reduction utilization” strategy. The double-side fuel modification device (FMD) operation maintained axially symmetric temperatures (<1250 °C) in horizontal combustion chambers, while single-side operation caused thermal asymmetry, with peak temperatures skewed toward the FMD side (<1200 °C). Original NO x emissions were effectively suppressed, remaining below 106.89 mg/m 3 (@6%O 2 ) for LQC and 122.76 mg/m 3 (@6%O 2 ) for SBC over broad load ranges, and even achieved ultra-low original NO x emissions (<50 mg/m 3 ). Distinct load-dependent advantages were observed for each coal type: SBC favored high-load thermal uniformity and low-load NO x abatement, whereas LQC exhibited the inverse trend. These findings underscore the importance of a load-adaptive coal selection and FMD operation mode. This study provides both theoretical insights and engineering guidance for retrofitting coal-fired power units toward flexible, low-emission operation under deep peak-shaving scenarios.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongliang Ding & Shuyun Li & Ziqu Ouyang & Shujun Zhu & Xiongwei Zeng & Hongshuai Wang & Kun Su & Zhaoyang Li, 2025. "Study on Combustion and NO x Emission Characteristics of Low-Quality Coal with Wide Load Based on Fuel Modification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:11:p:2798-:d:1665881
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    References listed on IDEAS

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