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Eze, C. C.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P. M. B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Udo, D. A.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P. M. B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Ugwu, H. U.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P. M. B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Akpan, S. C.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P. M. B 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Three
coal samples from Onyeama (Enugu State), Owukpa (Benue State) and Odagbo (Kogi
State) in Nigeria were collected and tested. These were characterized to
determine the proximate and the ultimate analyses, calorific value and the
thermogravimetric analysis, and their combustion efficiencies for power
generation comparatively analyzed. The proximate analysis and the calorific
value tests were done at the Energy Research Center, University of Nigeria –
Nsukka, while the ultimate analysis test was conducted at the National
Geosciences Research Laboratory, Kaduna. Also, the thermogravimetric analysis
was carried out at the Energy Research Center, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.
From the test results, the moisture contents ranged from 10.60 to 16.80%. The
Owukpa coal sample had the highest moisture content of 16.80%, followed by
Odagbo with 15.95% and Onyeama bearing 10.60%. The volatile matter contents of
the samples indicated that Owukpa had the highest value of 19.95%, followed by
Onyeama with 18.65% and Odagbo having the least value of 18.58% respectively.
Similarly, the Owukpa coal sample had the highest fixed carbon of 55.22%
followed by Onyeama with 53.36% and Odagbo with the lowest value of 50.38%,
while the ash contents showed Onyeama to possess the highest value of 17.39%,
and closely followed by Odagbo with 15.06% and Owukpa having the lowest content
of 8.03%. Moreso, Onyeama coal sample with the highest fuel ratio of 2.86 would
give the best ease of ignition and fuel burnout followed by Owukpa (2.77), and
Odagbo (2.71). The percentages of the elemental carbon of Onyeama, Owukpa and
Odagbo coal samples were 52.2170, 53.8178 and 50.8754% respectively, while the
hydrogen contents indicated Onyeama (4.7236%), Owukpa (4.0141%) and Odagbo
(3.8163%). The nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen contents obtained revealed Onyeama
(1.3756, 0.10 and 13.6938%), Owukpa (1.4350, 0.10 and 15.9031%) and Odagbo
(1.4260, 0.92 and 12.8423%) respectively. Consequently, the Onyeama coal sample
had the highest heating value of 32.916MJ/kg, followed by Odagbo (32.037MJ/kg)
and Owukpa (30.062MJ/kg). Based on the comparative analyses, the Onyeama coal
indicated the overall best fuel sample followed by Owukpa and then Odagbo in
that order in-view of their fuel ratio, combustion efficiencies, quality of the
fuel, ease of ignition and fuel burnout.
Keywords: Nigerian coals, parametric characterization, comparative analysis, combustion efficiency, power generation
https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_v5i1_7
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Published
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Issue
Vol. 5 No. 1, JUNE 2019
Article Section
GENERAL
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.
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