Combustion behavior of xylite/lignite mixturesCombustion behavior of xylite/lignite mixtures Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-10-272004enThe behavior and the kinetics in nitrogen and air of two low-rank coals (lignite and xylite) and their blends, as well as the compatibility of the component coals in the blends were evaluated, in an effort for the rational use of poor coals. The experiments were conducted in a thermobalance system, at non-isothermal heating conditions, with heating rates of 20 and 100 °C/min, in the temperature range of 25–850 °C. Material particle size was −100 μm. A first-order parallel independent reactions model and a power law model fitted successfully the rate data of pyrolysis and combustion, respectively. Activation energy values and reaction orders ranged from 23 to 182 kJ/mol and 0.8 to 2 respectively. The heating rate did not affect the kinetic parameters considerably, however when this was increased the reactions were shifted to higher temperatures and the rates were greater. The pyrolysis kinetics of lignite/xylite blends could be sufficiently predicted, based on the data of the individual fuels. However, this was not true in the case of char combustion. Blending of lignite with xylite, in any proportion, seemed to cause some interactions between the component coals in air.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Carbon422351-359 Vamvouka Despoina Βαμβουκα Δεσποινα Kastanaki Eleni Καστανακη Ελενη Lasithiotakis M. Papanicolaou C. Elsevier Coal Pyrolysis combustion Differential thermal analysis Differential thermal curves thermal analysis differential thermal analysis differential thermal curves Reaction kinetics