PRESSURIZED FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR

The Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) facility at the University of Utah can be used for the study of combustion of standard fuels (coal, natural gas, fuel oil, etc.) and for waste incineration. It consists of five main sections: the plenum/distributor, the lower bed, the freeboard, the transition/cyclone, and particulate return. Under circulating operation, solids are separated in the cyclone and returned to the lower bed through a standpipe with either a loopseal or L-valve.

The pressurized fluidized bed reactor is suitable for gasification, combustion or other high-temperature thermal processes. The system can be fluidized with superheated steam or air, with co-feed of oxygen or carbon dioxide. Up to four electrically-heated tube banks of 20 heaters each can be installed to provide up to 32 kW of heating. This is a bubbling flluidized bed system with a disengagement zone and internal cyclone. Product gas is fed to a high pressure, high temperature candle filter for separation of particulate such as char and elutriated bed bed material.

Specifications

  • Max. temperature: 2200°F (1200°C)
  • Fluidizing gas: steam or air with possible co-feed of O2, or CO2
  • Fluidizing gas preheater:  35 kW, max 1100°F (600°C)
  • Design:  Steel pressure vessel lined with two layers of castable refractory
  • Overall dimensions: Ø 30 in (0.76 m) x 7.0 m (23.0 ft) tall
  • Reactor inner dimensions: Ø 10 in (0.26 m) expanding to 14 in (0.36 m) x 17 ft (5.2 m) tall
  • Pressurized feed system including lock hopper, metering screws and high-speed, water cooled screw

Capabilities

  • Pressurized fluidized bed gasification of biomass, waste, black liquor
  • Pressurized oxy-fuel combustion
  • Evaluation of system performance and heat balance

Research

  • Measurement  of system performance (syngas, fuel conversion, temperatures, circulation rates)
  • Evaluation of bed materials for gasification, tar cracking (performance, attrition)
  • Comparative studies of feedstocks and feedstock blends
  • Acquisition of data for system scale-up
  • Simulation model validation