A detailed evaluation of comprehensive simulation software describing pulverized-coal combustion and gasification using advanced sensitivity analyses techniques

The present state of comprehensive simulation software describing pulverized-coal combustion and gasification has been evaluated. The efficient Multi-step Sensitivity Analysis (MSA) technique has been developed and evaluated. This technique is especially applicable to complex process simulation models requiring a substantial number of input parameters to describe the physical process being simulated. This technique was used to perform a comprehensive uncertainty analysis of pf combustion and gasification as described by an existing combustion model (PCGC-2). Results of these studies illustrate the relative importance of coal devolatilization, char oxidation, and particle dispersion in direct coal combustion and high-pressure coal gasification. The activation energy for the high temperature devolatilization reaction was shown to have a dominant impact on predicted coal burnout, NO{dollar}rm sb{lcub}x{rcub}{dollar} concentration, local gas temperature, and coal gas mixture fraction, case dependency of sensitivity results are also shown. These results demonstrate critical topics to be addressed in future comprehensive code development and emphasize the need for better process data. Results of this work help establish the foundations of a general pf combustion simulation model.