FUNDAMENTAL HYDRODYNAMICS RELATED TO PRESSURIZED FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTION

Pressurized fluidized bed combustion (PFBC) is an emerging energy conv ersion technology for solid fuels, well suited to low-grade fuels and waste materials. The chemical and thermal behaviour of fluidized bed c ombustors is strongly influenced by the hydrodynamics. The fundamental hydrodynamics of fluidization are the subject of this article. Most P FBC units operate in the bubbling regime, so we concentrate on bubblin g fluidization, but also include information on behaviour outside curr ent operating practice. In addition to fundamental hydrodynamics, mixi ng, heat and mass transfer, elutriation and entrainment, and reactor m odels are treated.