Effect of inorganic and organic additives on coal combustion: a review

Coal is an important fossil fuel, a resource primarily used for electric power generation, and currently supplies 41% of global electricity needs. Fossil fuel is one of the demanding energy source, and the consumption has gradually increased with the demand of energy consumption sector. The fuel stock is enough for few decades to meet the requirement of the energy sector, but it is depleting gradually. The increased consumption demands have pushed the researcher to search for a substitution to the fossil fuel and for a environmentally friendly and also a relatively inexpensive energy source. There comes a need to improve coal combustion performance to enhance the efficiency of the furnace and boiler. Adding additive to the coal is an option and has grabbed the attention of many researchers for developing an additive. These additives for coal can effectively improve the combustion performance of the coal. This review paper contributes information about the impact of additives on coal combustion properties, coal calorific value, binder for coal fines and a hybrid technology which use additives to modify the coal surface. The objective of this review is to relate the effect of additives on coal utilization and coal combustion performance.