Natural gas combustion in a turbulent fluidized bed of inert particles

The combustion of natural gas has been studied in a pilot-scale turbulent fluidized bed of inert particles at relatively high temperatures (800-1000 degrees C). Experiments were carried out in both bubbling and turbulent regimes. Combustion can be completed in the flammability range with a suitable injection system to bring two gases into an intense contact sufficient to permit complete in-bed combustion. The experimental results show that the fluidized-bed reactors offer excellent thermal uniformity and temperature control. This study also provides comprehensive data on gaseous fuel combustion and CO oxidation profile in a pilot plant fluidized bed of inert particles. Such data is required to develop a realistic model for combustion process in fluidized-bed reactors. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.