Defluidization Prediction and Prevention during Cocombustion of ReEngineered Feedstock with Coal in a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Combustor

Despite the increase in applications of renewable energy sources, coal combustion for electricity production remains important. The use of alkali and alkaline earth sorbents to address the emissions or their introduction during cocombustion of biomass can cause defluidization of fluidized bed combustors. This article presents the results obtained from an extensive experimental campaign aimed at exploring the performance of different defluidization inhibition measures and defluidization outcomes of a pilot-scale atmospheric bubbling fluidized bed combustor cofired with ReEngineered Feedstock (ReEF) and coal. ReEF is a solid fuel made from the nonrecyclable fraction of municipal solid waste to which alkaline air emission control reagents are physically bound. The cocombustion of coal and ReEF combines fuel- and sorbent-blending techniques for improved combustion and higher efficiency emission reduction. An earlier study of the group proved these favorable aspects during the cocombustion of a granular bitumi...