This paper is concerned with combustion of a refuse derived fuel in a small-scale flame. The objective is
to provide a direct comparison of the RDF flame properties with properties of pulverized coal flames fired
under similar boundary conditions. Measurements of temperature, gas composition (O2, CO2, CO, NO) and
burnout have demonstrated fundamental differences between the coal flames and the RDF flames. The
pulverized coals ignite in the close vicinity of the burner and most of the combustion is completed within
the first 300 ms. Despite the high volatile content of the RDF, its combustion extends far into the furnace
and after 1.8 s residence time only a 94% burnout has been achieved. This effect has been attributed not
only to the larger particle size of fluffy RDF particles but also to differences in RDF volatiles if compared
to coal volatiles. Substantial amounts of oily tars have been observed in the RDF flames even though the
flame temperatures exceeded 1300 ◦C. The presence of these tars has enhanced the slagging propensity
of RDF flames and rapidly growing deposits of high carbon content have been observed.