A thermogravimetric method under constant temperature replacing the beginning inert gas with burning air was established in this study for determining the combustion kinetics of single char particle. The combustion process of three types of coals, Fujian Longyan coal, Fujian Yong’an coal and Shandong coal, with diameter of 3.0—4.5 mm, in thermobalance under 900℃ was discussed using the familiar shrinking-core model.While the combustion of single char approached the end, the outside and the ash layer diffusion resistances tend to be zero as the reaction resistance dominated in the total resistance of combustion.Therefore, at this stage the inherent oxidation reaction constant (k_R) of the above char samples were estimated by analyzing the total resistance of combustion.The good agreement of combustion reaction rate between data determined in this study and calculated values obtained from reference in the drop tube furnace system, implied that the inherent oxidation reaction constant (k_R) determined by the thermogravimetric method under constant temperature was satisfactory and valuable. The gas diffusion through the ash layer of char particle during combustion process was discussed also. At the ash layer thickness half the char radius, the ash layer resistance in the combustion process reached a maximum value, at which the total resistance of combustion,1/K,was less than 25 s·m -1 and would be close to the reaction resistance,1/k_C,approaching the end of combustion. So the effects of gas diffusion resistance through ash layer on char combustion process could be ignored during the whole combustion process.
The catalytic effects of single and mixed catalysts, i.e. single 3%Ca and 5%Na-BL（black liquor） catalysts and mixed 3%Ca＋5%Na-BL catalyst, on carbon conversion, gasification reaction rate constant and activation energy, relative amount of harmful pollutant like sulphur containing gases have been investigated by thermogravimetry in steam gasification under temperature 750℃ to 950℃ at ambient pressure for three high-metarnorphous anthracites （Longyan, Fenghai and Youxia coals in Fujian Province）. The mixed catalyst of 3%Ca＋5%Na-BL increases greatly the carbon conversion and gasification rate constant by accelerating the gasification reaction C＋H2O→CO＋H2 due to presence of alkali surfacecompounds [COM], [CO2M] and exchanged calcium phenolate and calcium carboxylate （-COO）2. By adding CaCO3 into BL catalyst in gasification, in addition to improving the catalyst function and enhancing the carbon conversion, the effective desulphurization is also achieved, but the better operating temperature should be below 900℃. The homogenous and shrinking core models can be successfully employed to correlate the relations between the conversion and the gasification .time .and to estimate the reaction rate constant, The reaction acUvaUon energy and pre-exponential factor are estimated and the activation energy for mixed catalyst is in a range of 98.72-166.92 kJ·mol^-1, much less than 177.50-196.46 kJ·mol^-1 for non-catalytic steam gasification for three experimental coals.
