Performance evaluation of a pilot scale vortexing fluidized bed combustor

To understand vortexing fluidized bed combustor (VFBC) performances, an investigation was carried out in a 0.45 m diameter and 4.45 m height pilot scale VFBC. Rice husks, corn, and soybean were used as the biomass feedstock and silica sand serving as the bed material. The bubbling bed temperature was controlled by using water injected into the bed. The experimental results show that the excess air ratio is the dominant factor for combustion efficiency. The in-bed combustion proportion increases with the primary air flow rate and bed temperature, and decreases with the volatile/fixed carbon ratio. The stability constant is proposed to describe the inertia characteristics of the vortexing fluidized bed combustor. The experimental results indicate that the stability of the VFBC increases with bed weight and primary air flow rate, but decreases with bed temperature.