In this study, the float fraction (<specific gravity of 2.0) of a size cut (63-90
m) bituminouscoal was combusted in a drop tube furnace (DTF) at a gas temperature of 1300
C under anatmosphere of air, to investigate the ash
liberation at five coal burnoff levels (35.5%, 54.3%, 70.1%,87.1%, and 95.6%). The data indicated that char structure determines the ash
liberation atdifferent burnoff levels. Fragmentation of porous char was found to be the determinativemechanism for formation of fine ash during the early and middle stages of char combustion,while coalescence of included
mineral matter determines the coarse ash formed in the later stagesof combustion. The investigation confirmed that the char morphology and structure play a keyrole in determining char fragmentation, char burnout history, and the ash
liberation duringcombustion.