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Show THE FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTION OF CHAR W. J. Ayers, Jr., E. K. Johnson J. S. Mei, R. L. Rice and J. Y. Shang United States Department of Energy Morgantown Energy Technology Center Morgantown, West Virginia 26505 ABSTRACT Char is a by-product of several coal conversion processes. Thus, it is imperative that methods be developed for utilizing the energy of these byproducts. Most chars contain low volatile matter content which is associated with low reactivity fuels. Therefore, there is some concern about employing a low volatile fuel with its attendant ignition problem in any combustion system. However, if char can be shown to be a useful fuel, the overall coal conversion process efficiency will improve and the process would be more economically attractive. Fluidized-bed combustion appears to be an ideal method for utilizing less reactive fuels. The hot well-mixed bed provides excellent control of both combustion and emissions. In addition, fluid beds burn a wide range of fuels and offer better heat transfer than conventional boilers. This paper presents the results of a combustion study in which a fine particle size char (80 percent minus 200 mesh) was burned in a 6-inch diameter fluidized-bed combustor. The char exhibited excellent combustion efficiencies and good flame stability despite the char's low volatile content. In addition, the emissions were easily controlled within Federal guidelines for all the tests. Based on the results from this study of the char's combustion characteristics, it appears that char is a viable fuel for atmospheric fluidized-bed combustion systems. 22-1 |
