INTERNAL BURNING OF PETROLEUM COKE PARTICLES IN A FLUIDIZED-BED

Physical properties of small irregular petroleum coke particles have been measured at various stages of combustion in a fluidized bed of sand operating in the range 973-1173 K. Internal burning took place during the particle heating period even at bed temperatures of 1173 K. However, at this temperature, the particles burnt predominantly under mass transfer control subsequent to ignition and particle heating. Combustion behaviour at 973 K was typical of internal burning characteristics, i. e. pore enlargement and decrease in particle density continued as burning progressed.