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NO sub x and N sub 2 O formation in pressurized fluidized-bed combustion tests

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5970244
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Chalmers Univ. of Tech., Goeteborg (Sweden). Dept. of Energy Conversion Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
  2. Chalmers Univ. of Tech., Goeteborg (Sweden). Dept. of Energy Conversion

Batch combustion tests have been performed in a small bubbling fluidized-bed reactor with the objective of establishing process variable effects on the formation of NO{sub x} (NO and NO{sub 2}) and N{sub 2}O in the combustion of coals of various rank. The reactor has been operated both in a differential mode with once-through gas flow for the purpose of studying primary production of nitrogen oxides, and in an integral mode with recycle-gas flow for the purpose of studying secondary heterogeneous reactions of the nitrogen oxides. The pressure range studied extends from atmospheric pressure to 20 bar. Net NO{sub x} production is found to decrease significantly with increasing pressure at least for moderate fuel concentrations in the bed. Increasing fuel concentration reduces strongly net NO{sub x} production for all pressures, implying that heterogeneous contact of the primary NO{sub x} with burning fuel surfaces is an important reduction mechanism for NO{sub x}. In a sulfated limestone bed N{sub 2}O formation is found to be almost an order of magnitude lower than the levels reported in recent field measurements on circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) boilers. In a quartz bed however, much higher N{sub 2}O levels are obtained. Consequently it is concluded that heterogeneous decomposition of N{sub 2}O over the limestone surface is an important contributor to the N{sub 2}O chemistry. Experiments performed with NO-doped combustion air show that most of the N{sub 2}O formation is from the heterogeneous NO{sub x} reduction over burning fuel surfaces. Another, and generally smaller source of N{sub 2}O is the volatiles combustion. 15 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
SENEA; Statens Energiverk, Stockholm (Sweden)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
5970244
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-105150; CONF-910424--4; ON: DE91008737; CNN: 276 362-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English