Model development and validation: Co-combustion of residual char, gases and volatile fuels in the fast fluidized combustion chamber of a dual fluidized bed biomass gasifier

A one-dimensional steady state model has been developed for the combustion reactor of a dual fluidized bed biomass steam gasification system. The combustion reactor is operated as fast fluidized bed (riser) with staged air introduction (bottom, primary and secondary air). The main fuel i.e., residual biomass char (from the gasifier), is introduced together with the circulating bed material at the bottom of the riser. The riser is divided into two zones: bottom zone (modelled according to modified two phase theory) and upper zone (modelled with core-annulus approach). The model consists of sub-model for bed hydrodynamic, conversion and conservation. Biomass char is assumed to be a homogeneous matrix of C, H and O and is modelled as partially volatile fuel. The exit gas composition and the temperature profile predicted by the model are in good agreement with the measured value.     

Elutriation and attrition of char form a large fluidized bed

Previous correlations for elutriation of particle fines did not fit the present data obtained in a large fluidized bed using char/sand mixture as the bed material. A new form of correlation (after Zenz and Weil [1]) for the elutriation rate constants, E_i, has been developed which gives a good agreement with the experimental data: E/?_gU_g = 9.43 × 10^?4 (U²_g/gd_p)^1.65.The attrition rate of production of fines of char particles in char/sand fluidized bed has been found to increase with U_g—U_mf as an exponential function: k_a = ae^{b(U_g—U_mf)}. The dependence of attrition rate constant on d_p appears small, if it is present at all. Attrition would appear to be occuring only in the bubble wakes.A small char layer (without sand) was found on the char/sand bed surface when it was fluidized. The elutriation rate was found not to be significantly influenced by this thin char layer. This is a unique confirmation of the theory of entrainment that the majority of ejected particles originate from the wakes of bubbles which have grown as they rise through the bed.     

Modelling fluidized bed combustion of high-volatile solid fuels

A model of an atmospheric bubbling fluidized bed combustor operated with high-volatile solid fuel feedings is presented. It aims at the assessment of axial burning profiles along the reactor and of the associated temperature profiles, relevant to combustor performance and operability. The combustor is divided into three sections: the dense bed, the splashing region and the freeboard. Three combustible phases are considered: volatile matter, relatively large non-elutriable char particles and fine char particles of elutriable size. The model takes into account phenomena that assume particular importance with high-volatile solid fuels, namely fuel particle fragmentation and attrition in the bed and volatile matter segregation and postcombustion above the bed. An energy balance on the splashing zone is set up, taking into account volatile matter and elutriated fines postcombustion and radiative and convective heat fluxes to the bed and the freeboard.Results from calculations with a high-volatile biomass fuel indicate that combustion occurs to comparable extents in the bed and in the splashing region of the combustor. Due to volatile matter segregation with respect to the bed, a significant fraction of the heat is released into the splashing region of the combustor and this results in an increase of the temperature in this region. Extensive bed solids recirculation associated to solids ejection/falling back due to bubbles bursting at bed surface promotes thermal feedback from this region to the bed of as much as 80-90% of the heat released by afterburning of volatile matter and elutriated fines. Depending on the operating conditions a significant fraction of the volatile matter may burn in the freeboard or in the cyclone.     

Experiment and computational fluid dynamics investigation of biochar elutriation in fluidized bed

In fluidized bed biomass fast pyrolysis, the biomass is converted to biochar and elutriated. The elutriation rate is a key parameter in reactor designs and operations. This research presents a video-based continuous measurement of biochar elutriation rate in a fluidized bed with sands and biomass as bed materials. The fluidized bed is simulated with the computational fluid dynamics—coarse-grained discrete element method (CFD-CGDEM) in MFiX. The fluidization behavior of nonspherical sands can be more accurately captured when a rolling friction model is used. The predicted elutriation rate is close to the experimental measurement when the particle size distributions are considered and the filtered drag with a shape correction is used. These results validated the accuracy of the MFiX-based CFD framework for the prediction of biochar elutriations in the fluidized bed biomass fast pyrolysis reactor.     

Attrition of char agglomerates

A 15.2 cm diameter fluidized bed system with single- and multiple-jet distributors was designed and constructed to study the attrition behavior and mechanism of Kentucky No. 9 char from IGT's U-GAS fluidized bed gasifier. The effects of the jet and auxiliary gas velocities, the number of jets, the bed height, and the roughness of the fluidized bed wall on the attrition of char particles were studied. Particle shape variation during attrition was calculated by comparing our experimental data on pressure drop for a packed bed with the Ergun equation prediction. A mathematical procedure was developed to translate the size distribution variation of particles in the fluidized bed to the attrition rate expression.     

Modeling combustion of straw–bitumen pellets in a fluidized bed

Recently, straw–bitumen pellets have been proposed as an alternative fuel. In this paper, a comprehensive model for steady state combustion of straw–bitumen pellets in a bubbling fluidized bed is presented. The combustor is divided into three sectors: a dense bed zone, a splashing zone and a freeboard zone. Relevant phenomena including volatile release and segregation, char comminution and elutriation, bed particles ejection, and post-combustion above the bed have been taken into consideration. Energy equations for the splashing and freeboard zones have been established.     

糠醛渣热解特性及热解挥发产物对其燃烧烟气原位控氮作用

通常,具有高含氮资源禀赋生物质在能源化利用过程中需控制NO_x排放。解耦燃烧是可适用于高含水、高含氮燃料的低NO_x燃烧技术,其对NO_x生成的抑制效果优于其他燃烧技术。为揭示解耦燃烧中热解挥发产物的原位控氮潜力、发展双流化床解耦燃烧技术,以糠醛渣为原料,借助固定床装置和双流化床装置,分别开展其热解特性和双流化床解耦燃烧近实际工况模拟研究。具体地,首先在固定床反应器中考察糠醛渣在不同温度下的热解产物分布,继而借助双流化床反应器考察了热解在线挥发产物对热解半焦同步燃烧烟气中NO_x的还原效果。结果表明：在500~700℃热解温度区间内,随温度的升高,半焦产率逐渐减少,从45.2%下降到39.8%;气体产率呈明显上升趋势,从12.4%上升到22.5%,CO、CH₄、H₂等还原性组分产率增加显著;焦油产率略有降低,从15.9%降低到12.9%;水分产率变化不大。双流化床解耦燃烧实验中,糠醛渣热解挥发产物对热解半焦同步燃烧所产烟气控氮效果良好,热解挥发产物对半焦燃烧烟气NO_x减排效果主要受热解温度、二次风占比影响,总过量空气系数ER=1.3,热解温度600℃、二次风过量空气系数ER₂=0.5时,糠醛渣热解挥发产物对相同热解条件下生成的半焦燃烧（900℃,过量空气系数ER₁=0.8）所产烟气原位控氮效果达到最优,NO_x减排率为54.80%。这表明,可通过控制热解挥发分产物产率、氧化程度,充分发挥挥发分的NO_x还原能力,从而明显改善解耦燃烧原位控氮效果。     

Modeling and experimental studies on single particle coal devolatilization and residual char combustion in fluidized bed

Single particle devolatilization followed by combustion of the residual coal char particle has been analyzed in a batch-fluidized bed. The kinetic scheme with distributed activation energy is used for coal devolatilization while multiple chemical reactions with volume reaction mechanism are considered for residual char combustion. Both the models couple kinetics with heat transfer. Finite Volume Method (FVM) is employed to solve fully transient partial differential equations coupled with reaction kinetics. The devolatilization model is used to predict the devolatilization time along with residual mass and particle temperature, while the combined devolatilization and char combustion model is used to predict the overall mass loss and temperature profile of coal. The computed results are compared with the experimental results of the present authors for combustion of Indian sub-bituminous coal (15% ash) in a fluidized bed combustor as well as with published experimental results for coal with low ash high volatile matter. The effects of various operating parameters like bed temperature, oxygen mole fraction in bulk phase on devolatilization time and burn-out time of coal particle in bubbling fluidized bed have been examined through simulation.     

Release of volatiles from large coal particles in a hot fluidized bed

Coal particles with diameters of 3–11 mm were injected into a small, hot bed of sand fluidized by nitrogen. Volatiles evolution was followed by sampling the exit gas stream and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography. Three Australian coals covering a range of volatile matter were studied and the effects of coal particle size and bed temperature were determined. The yields of gaseous components, char and tar are explained by consideration of the competitive reactions for coal hydrogen and oxygen and secondary reactions of the volatile species within the coal particle. The pore structure developed during devolatilization has a significant effect on the extent of these secondary reactions. It is concluded that heat transfer is the main process controlling the volatilization time in fluidized bed combustors. The time required for heat transfer into the coal particle, determined by calculation and experiment, agrees with the measured volatilization time. Significant factors are external heat transfer to the surface of the particle, internal conduction through the coal substance and radiation through the pores, and the counterflow of volatiles out of the coal particle. For different coals, variations in the volatilization time appear to be caused by the development of different pore structures, which affect radiant heat transfer through the pores.     

Heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions of pyrolysis vapors from pine wood

To maximize oil yields in the fast pyrolysis of biomass it is generally accepted that vapors need to be rapidly quenched. The influence of the heterogeneous and homogeneous vapor‐phase reactions on yields and oil composition were studied using a fluidized‐bed reactor. Even high concentrations of mineral low char (till 55 vol %) appeared not to be catalytically active. However, the presence of minerals, either in biomass or added, does influence the yields, especially by the occurrence of vapor‐phase charring/polymerization reactions. Contradictory, in the absence of minerals, homogeneous vapor‐phase cracking reactions were dominant over polymerization/charring reactions (400–550°C, 1–15 s). With increasing vapor residence time, the oil yield reached an asymptotic value, which decreased with temperature. At a vapor temperature of 400°C no decrease in oil yield was observed, but dedicated analysis showed that homogeneous vapor to vapor reactions had occurred. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012     

生物质流化床空气-水蒸气气化模型研究

根据流化床反应器特点,结合生物质气化动力学反应机理,建立了生物质在流化床内气化的等温稳态、一维二相动力学模型。该模型所做的主要假定如下:流化床分为气泡相和乳相,在气泡相和乳相内均存在化学反应,考虑二相内的轴向气体扩散,生物质热解过程瞬时完成,主要考虑焦碳以及CO,CO2,H2,H2O,CH4等在流化床内发生的8个主要化学反应。数学模型属于常微分方程组边值问题,利用数值计算软件M atlab7.0进行编程求解。以木粉为原料,将模型结果与实验结果进行了对比,模拟结果与试验数据符合良好,在一定程度上证明了模型的有效性和可靠性。     

Effect of the grid-velocity on attrition in gas fluidized beds

Changes in particle size distribution play an important role in fluidized bed processes, and these changes are dominated by elutriation and carryover of fines and by attrition or agglomeration. In this study on attrition in gas-fluidized beds, we found that the attrition is a function of the particle size distribution, the jet velocities and the overall superficial gas velocity. Empirical equations have been developed to predict the attrition rate.     

A KINETIC MODEL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIQUIDS FROM THE FLASH PYROLYSIS OF BIOMASS

A kinetically based prediction model for the production of organic liquids from the flash pyrolysis of biomass is proposed. Wood or other biomass is assumed to be decomposed according to two parallel reactions yielding liquid tar and ( gas + char) The tar is then assumed to further react by secondary homogeneous reactions to form mainly gas as a product

The model provides a very good agreement with the experimental results obtained using a pilot plant fluidized bed pyrolysis reactor

The proposed model is shown to be able to predict the organic liquid yield as a function of the operating parameters of the process, within the optimal conditions for maximizing the tar yields, and the reaction rate constants compare reasonably well with those reported in the literature     

Modelling of NO and N2O emissions from biomass-fired circulating fluidized bed combustors

A model for NO and N₂O emissions from biomass-fired circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustors has been developed and evaluated in this study. All the model parameters were chosen for a typical woody biomass-pinewood chips. Both drying and devolatilization of biomass particles were modelled with limited rates, which were selected from the literature based on woody biomass fuels. The partition of fuel-nitrogen between volatiles and char was also specifically chosen for pinewood based on available experimental data from the literature. Volatile nitrogen was assumed to consist of NH₃, HCN and N₂ with the distribution between three species as input parameters to the model. Twenty-five homogenous and heterogeneous global chemical reactions were included in the model, of which 20 reactions represents the global fuel-nitrogen reactions. Both gaseous and solid phase were assumed to be in plug flow. The model has been applied to the modelling of a 12 MW_th CFB boiler. The predicted N₂O emissions were always less than 5 ppmv for pinewood combustion, which was consistent with the experimental results. The predicted NO emissions increased with the total excess air of the riser and the fuel-N content while the predicted percentage conversion of fuel-N to NO decreased with increasing fuel-N content. The NO emissions were also predicted to decrease with increasing primary zone stoichiometry. These predictions agree with the experimental results. The predicted NO emissions decreased slightly with increasing bed temperature, whereas experiments showed that NO emissions slightly increased with bed temperature for birch chips combustion and did not change with bed temperature for fir chips combustion. Sensitivity analyses reveal that the reaction between NO and char is the key reaction to determine the NO emissions.     

Kinetic studies of the pyrolysis of sewage sludge by tga and comparison with fluidized beds

The pyrolysis of sewage sludge was examined by thermogravimetric analysis using different heating rates, particle sizes and final temperatures. A semi-empirical model was developed with four global consecutive/competitive reactions to volatile and solid products including also a heat balance. This model was extrapolated to isothermal reactor conditions and compared to experimental data on fluidized bed pyrolysis. Depending on the particle size and reactor temperature, about 90% of the maximum conversion in a fluidized bed takes place under external heat transfer control, the rest under kinetic control. Incomplete conversion occurs at short particle residence times, which were calculated approximately by the model.     

无烟煤化学链燃烧过程燃料氮转化释放特性

基于赤铁矿石载氧体,在小型单流化床反应器上,开展煤挥发分和焦炭的化学链燃烧研究,探讨挥发分氮和焦氮在化学链燃烧过程中的转化特性。研究表明:燃料氮释放的中间产物HCN和NH₃与铁矿石载氧体具有较高的化学反应亲和性,易于被载氧体氧化生成N₂和NO。淮北无烟煤挥发分氮转化过程中,NO是唯一的氮氧化物,反应器出口中间产物NH₃的释放份额略高于HCN。在煤焦化学链燃烧还原过程中,部分燃料氮释放的中间产物HCN和NH₃被铁矿石氧化导致少量NO的生成,还原过程中无N₂O的释放;较高的还原反应温度加速了NO的生成。减少进入载氧体氧化再生过程的焦炭量可减少空气反应器NO和N₂O的生成。     

Two-stage dual fluidized bed gasification: Its conception and application to biomass

The quoted two-stage dual fluidized bed gasification (T-DFBG) devises the use of a two-stage fluidized bed (TFB) to replace the single-stage bubbling fluidized bed gasifier involved in the normally encountered dual fluidized bed gasification (N-DFBG) systems. By feeding fuel into the lower stage of the TFB, this lower stage functions as a fuel gasifier similar to that in the N-DFBG so that the upper stage of the TFB works to upgrade the produced gas in the lower stage and meanwhile to suppress the possible elutriation of fuel particles fed into the freeboard of the lower-stage bed. The heat carrier particles (HCPs) circulated from the char combustor enter first the upper stage of the TFB to facilitate the gas upgrading reactions occurring therein, and the particles are in turn forwarded into the lower stage to provide endothermic heat for fuel pyrolysis and gasification reactions. Consequently, with T-DFBG it is hopeful to increase gasification efficiency and decrease tar content in the produced gas. This anticipation was corroborated through gasifying dry coffee grounds in two 5.0kg/h experimental setups configured according to the principles of T-DFBG and N-DFBG, respectively. In comparison with the N-DFBG case, the test according to T-DFBG increased, the fuel C conversion and cold gas efficiency by about 7% and decreased tar content in the produced gas by up to 25% under similar reaction conditions. Test results demonstrated also that all these upgrading effects via adopting T-DFBG were more pronounced when a Ca-based additive was blended into the fuel.     

Characteristics and mechanism of catalytic effect of inner minerals on combustion of oil shale coke

The micro fluidized bed reaction analyzer (MFBRA) was used to study the combustion characteristics of oil shale mineral catalytic semi-coke. This study compared the effect of minerals inside char and bed material (oil shale ash) outside char on char combustion, and the process and mechanism of char combustion in the fluidized bed were further revealed. Both of minerals inside char and bed material outside char had a marked catalysis for char combustion and their combined catalysis was most notable. It is found that the CaO and Fe₂O₃ were the major active components in oil shale minerals for catalytic combustion of char, and the catalysis of CaO was stronger than that of Fe₂O₃. The activation energy of char combustion ranged from 60.41 kJ/mol to 78.97 kJ/mol, and it would significantly decrease with presence of the catalysis by minerals in oil shale. For char combustion in a fluidized bed, the contribution of minerals to catalytic combustion was mainly reflected in four reactions, such as volatiles cracking and combustion, surface carbon combustion, internal carbon combustion and CO combustion.