Corrosion in high alumina refractory serviced in a bench-scale entrained flow gasifier

Abstract Corroded microstructure of high alumina refractory serviced in a bench-scale entrained flow gasifier was investigated. The bench-scale gasifier established a relatively real environment: 0.1 MPa, 1400–1450 °C and reducing atmosphere. By analyzing the two stages of the slag accumulation and slag further corrosion in pore structures, it was found that the refractory in the pore structures was dissolved and formed low temperature eutectics with the slag penetrating. Moreover, the compositions of the slag infiltrated around the burner plane was compared and the results indicated that the slag infiltrated into the refractory above the burner plane had a higher solubility to the refractory. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculation for the mixture of refractory and slag was used to predict the changes of solid phase and liquid phase. Additionally, as the slag penetrated and the temperature decreased, anorthite (Ca2Al2Si2O8) was the first to precipitate.