Particle size distribution of submicron particulate matter from coal/biomass combustion under different conditions: A comparison of modeling and experimentation--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Ma, X., Zhou, M., Liu, C., Zheng, F., & Lu, J. (2025). Particle size distribution of submicron particulate matter from coal/biomass combustion under different conditions: A comparison of modeling and experimentation. Particuology, 102, 240-250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2025.05.001

Particle size distribution of submicron particulate matter from coal/biomass combustion under different conditions: A comparison of modeling and experimentation

Xuejun Ma^a, Minmin Zhou^b, Chunjing Liu^a, Fei Zheng^a, Jianyi Lu^{a c *}

a Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding, 071003, China
b School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
c MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

10.1016/j.partic.2025.05.001

Volume 102, July 2025, Pages 240-250

Received 11 December 2024, Revised 26 April 2025, Accepted 4 May 2025, Available online 13 May 2025, Version of Record 21 May 2025.

E-mail: lujianyi@tsinghua.org.cn

Highlights

• Particle size distribution of submicron particulate matter under various conditions is simulated.

• Model fits experimental data well with relative error even below 10%.

• Verified model predicts particle size distribution of submicron particulate matter in some conditions.

• Effects on emission amount and particle size distribution of submicron particulate matter are explored.

Abstract

Coal/biomass combustion is a major source of submicron particulate matter (sub-PM), with mineral substances in the fuels playing a key role in the formation and growth of these particles. In this study, the temporal evolution of sub-PM is predicted by simulating coal/biomass combustion under different temperature, atmosphere, species, particle size and density conditions by using nucleation, condensation, coagulation and deposition sub-models. Compared with experimental data, the results show that the amount of sub-PM generated from pulverized coal combustion increases with higher temperatures and oxygen concentrations, and lignin (LN) produces the highest emission of sub-PM among different biomass types. The peak particle size distribution (PSD) of sub-PM across different experimental conditions is mainly centered around 0.1–0.2 μm. The values of relative error are below 20% and even below 10%, indicating that the model is in good agreement with the experimental data. Subsequently, the effects of pulverized coal size and coal density on the PSD of sub-PM are predictively simulated by the verified model, the findings indicate that both of the peak PSD are among 0.08–0.23 μm, the emission amount of sub-PM negatively relate to coal size and coal density.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Coal/biomass combustion; Different conditions; Submicron particulate matter (sub-PM); Particle size distribution (PSD)

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