Contractor's STTR Phase I Final Report- Experimental Analysis and Model Development of Pyrolysis/Combustion of Coal/Biomass in a Bench Scale Spouted Bed Reactor
- Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI), North Haven, CT (United States)
- Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)
During Phase I both experimental evaluation and computational validation of an advanced Spouted Bed Reactor (SBR) approach for biomass and coal combustion was completed. All Phase I objectives were met and some exceeded. Comprehensive insight on SBR operation was achieved via design, fabrication, and testing of a small demonstration unit with pulverized coal and biomass as feedstock at University of Connecticut (UCONN). A scale-up and optimization tool for the next generation of coal and biomass co-firing for reducing GHG emissions was also developed. The predictive model was implemented with DOE’s MFIX computational model and was observed to accurately mimic even unsteady behavior. An updated Spouted Bed Reactor was fabricated, based on model feedback, and experimentally displayed near ideal behavior. This predictive capability based upon first principles and experimental correlation allows realistic simulation of mixed fuel combustion in these newly proposed power boiler designs. Compared to a conventional fluidized bed the SBR facilitates good mixing of coal and biomass, with relative insensitivity to particle size and densities, resulting in improved combustion efficiency. Experimental data with mixed coal and biomass fuels demonstrated complete oxidation at temperatures as low as 500ºC. This avoids NOx formation and residual carbon in the waste ash. Operation at stoichiometric conditions without requiring cooling or sintering of the carrier was also observed. Oxygen-blown operation were tested and indicated good performance. This highlighted the possibility of operating the SBR at a wide range of conditions suitable for power generation and partial oxidation byproducts. It also supports the possibility of implementing chemical looping (for readily capturing CO2 and SOx).
- Research Organization:
- Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI), North Haven, CT (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0015113
- OSTI ID:
- 1430902
- Type / Phase:
- STTR (Phase I)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-PCI-15113
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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