Circulating Fluidized Bed Gasifier                                                                        

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.

Specifications

• Dimensions – 8.5m tall with inner and outer diameters of 0.25m and 0.61m, respectively.
• The CFB is designed to operate in both the circulating (Fast) and bubbling bed modes.
• Fuel feed rate – 85 kg/hr (190 lb/hr) coal (30s residence time)
• Maximum firing rate – 670 kW

Capabilities

• Air or oxy-fired operation
• The CFB can be equipped with fuel injectors for co-firing with fuel injectors for co-firing natural gas or caol with low heating-value waste
• Continuous emissions monitoring equipment for real time measurement of O₂, CO₂, CO, NO_x, and THC emissions, with other species-based measurements available upon request
• Detailed particulate measurement, including ultra-fine particles

Research

• Developing fundamental rate parameters and sub-scale model validation for oxyfuel combustion in circulating fluidized beds
• Identifying key parameters of CFB firing that may facilitate conversion of an air-fired CFB to oxycoal firing