A DESIGN METHODOLOGY FOR SMALL-SCALE BUBBLING FLUIDIZED-BED FURNACES

A detailed methodology is presented for the design of small-scale flui dized-bed furnaces (SSFBF) in the 15-250 kW capacity range for domesti c space and hot water heating. These bubbling fluidized-bed furnaces b urn a beneficiated coal-water slurry mixture, and do not have heat exc hange tubes in the bed or freeboard regions. Algorithms are developed, based on this methodology, to calculate furnace design and performanc e parameters. The heat transfer coefficients are calculated for the de nse bed and freeboard of the SSFBF. These are then compared with theor etical and experimental heat transfer coefficients in the published li terature. Excellent agreement is found between those in the SSFBF and those in the literature. The finding of this work is that the methodol ogy and the heat transfer coefficients obtained provide excellent desi gn tools for the scale-up of bubbling fluidized-bed furnaces in the 15 -250 kW range.