In the entrained-flow gasifiers used in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants, the majority of mineral matter transforms to liquid slag on the wall of the gasifier and flows out the bottom. However, a small fraction of the mineral matter is entrained (as fly ash) with the raw syngas out of the gasifier to downstream processing. This molten/sticky fly ash could cause fouling of the syngas cooler. To improve gasification availability through better design and operation of the gasification process, a better understanding of slag behavior and the characteristics of the slagging process is needed. Char/ash properties, gas compositions in the gasifier, the gasifier wall structure, fluid dynamics, and plant operating conditions (mainly temperature and oxygen/carbon ratio) all affect slagging behavior. Because coal has varying ash content and composition, different operating conditions are required to maintain the slag flow and limit problems downstream. In Part I, we review the main types and the operating conditions of entrained-flow gasifiers and coal properties used in IGCC plants; we identify and discuss the key coal ash properties and the operating conditions impacting slag behavior; finally, we summarize the coal quality criteria and the operating conditions in entrained-flow gasifiers. In Part II, we discuss the constitutive modeling related to the rheological studies of slag flow.

The rheological behavior of cement slurries is important in trying to prevent and eliminate gas-migration related problems in oil well applications. In this paper, we review the constitutive modeling of cement slurries/pastes. Cement slurries, in general, behave as complex non-linear fluids with the possibility of exhibiting viscoelasticity, thixotropy, yield stress, shear-thinning effects, etc. The shear viscosity and the yield stress are two of the most important rheological characteristics of cement; these have been studied extensively and a review of these studies is provided in this paper. We discuss the importance of changing the concentration of cement particles, water-to-cement ratio, additives/admixtures, shear rate, temperature and pressure, mixing methods, and the thixotropic behavior of cement on the stress tensor. In the concluding remarks, we propose a new constitutive model for cement slurry, considering the basic non-Newtonian nature of the different models.

Chemical-looping technology is one of the promising CO₂ capture technologies. It generates a CO₂ enriched flue gas, which will greatly benefit CO₂ capture, utilization or sequestration. Both chemical-looping combustion (CLC) and chemical-looping gasification (CLG) have the potential to be used to generate power, chemicals, and liquid fuels. Chemical-looping is an oxygen transporting process using oxygen carriers. Recently, attention has focused on solid fuels such as coal. Coal chemical-looping reactions are more complicated than gaseous fuels due to coal properties (like mineral matter) and the complex reaction pathways involving solid fuels. The mineral matter/ash and sulfur in coal may affect the activity of oxygen carriers. Oxygen carriers are the key issue in chemical-looping processes. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has been widely used for the development of oxygen carriers (e.g., oxide reactivity). Two proposed processes for the CLC of solid fuels are in-situ Gasification Chemical-Looping Combustion (iG-CLC) and Chemical-Looping with Oxygen Uncoupling (CLOU). The objectives of this review are to discuss various chemical-looping processes with coal, summarize TGA applications in oxygen carrier development, and outline the major challenges associated with coal chemical-looping in iG-CLC and CLOU.