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Show The furnace has a capacity of 500,000 Btu/hr and a maximum working temperature of I300°F. This furnace was used in a program to determine the variation in heat-transfer rates in the bed under both steady-state and unsteady-state conditions. Fuel Capabilities These furnaces can be fired with a variety of gaseous, liquid, or pulverized fuels. Natural gas is available as well as an underground, 5000-gallon, heavy oil storage and pumping system. Storage tanks and pumps are available for lighter oils. Pulverized fuel grinding and crushing equipment is available as well as a combination hopper/screw feeder/pneumatic coal feed system. The most unique capability is the ability to continuously make a wide variety of low- and medium-Btu gases containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other species. The low- and medium-Btu gases are generated using a special gas-generating and fuel preparation facility. The critical items are the special gas generators, or reformers, that can produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide over a wide range of ratios. Natural gas, carbon dioxide, and steam are passed through reaction retorts contained in a vertical cylindrical furnace. The catalyst-filled retorts are heated, and the input gases undergo endothermic chemical reactions at a temperature of 2I00°F. The gases are then quenched and compressed (maximum 80 psig). After compression, the product gas is blended with nitrogen, hydrogen, methane, carbon dioxide, steam, and trace gas species, as required, to obtain the specified composition of the fuel gas to be tested. Coal tar and char can also be added to the fuel stream. Up to 5 million Btu/hr of simulated low-or medium-Btu fuel gas can be generated. Up to 3 million Btu/hr of hydrogen is also available from high-pressure storage. The IGT Furnace Research Facility thus has the flexibility to independently vary - • Fuel type • Fuel firing rate • Air input rate • Oxygen enrichment • Air preheat temperature • Fuel preheat temperature • Furnace load • Rate of flue gas recirculation. 4 I N S T I T U T E OF G A S T E C H N O L O GY |