STEAM ACTIVATION OF A BITUMINOUS COAL IN A MULTISTAGE FLUIDIZED-BED PILOT-PLANT - OPERATION AND SIMULATION-MODEL

A hydrodynamic and kinetic model was developed and applied to simulate the experimental data from a three-stage fluidized bed pilot plant wi th downcomers. This was used to study the activated carbon production from a Spanish bituminous coal by steam gasification. The steam gasifi cation kinetics, considering the influence of inhibitors, were also de termined in a thermobalance. With the kinetic equation and the experim ental solids residence time distribution of the pilot plant, the model simulates the overall process that takes place in the reactor. The pr oposed model is able to reproduce the experimental results satisfactor ily.