Petrographic composition of coals and products of coal combustion from the selected combined heat and power plants (CHP) and heating plants in Upper Silesia, Poland

Abstract

Coal samples and by-products resulting from the combustion process collected from seven combined heat and power (CHP) plants and heating plants located in Upper Silesia, southern Poland, were subjected to petrographic analysis. The coal used as a fuel in these plants was collected from mines of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin; it occurs in a wide range of coalification and has variable quality parameters. The coal is dominated by macerals from the vitrinite group; however, a high content of macerals from the inertinite group has also been observed. Based on petrographic analysis of ash and slags, a highly variable mineral matter content, confirming variable combustion efficiency, has been found. In the case of samples collected from large CHP plants with pulverized and fluidized bed boilers, the mineral matter content is high. The share of mineral matter in combustion products clearly decreases in the case of smaller power plants and heating plants, especially those using grate boilers. The increased content of unburned coal can be explained by the fact that coals of higher rank are often used as fuels in the mentioned plants. The greatest diversity of char forms can be observed in the case of samples collected from small CHP plants. In the case of three samples of slag, collected from small heating plants using grate boilers, additional presence of coke, thermally altered, and unaltered coal has also been found.