An experimental investigation of high-ash coal gasification in a pilot-scale bubbling fluidized bed reactor

Saurabh Gupta and Santanu De

Energy, 2022, vol. 244, issue PB

Abstract: Gasification of low-grade, sub-bituminous coal with a high-ash content above 45% is carried out in a pilot-scale bubbling fluidized bed reactor using air and steam as the fluidizing gases. For a stable autothermal operation of the gasifier, the effects of equivalence ratio (φ) and steam/coal ratio (ψ) on syngas composition, carbon conversion, cold gas efficiency, and agglomeration behavior are investigated. The chemical composition of the ash samples is analyzed using X-ray fluorescence, whereas a scanning electron microscope, coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, is utilized to inspect agglomerates formed during the gasification. The optimum range of φ is found in the range of 0.19–0.28, which maintains bed temperature in the range of 800−900°C. Steam injection increases heating value, carbon conversion, and gasification efficiency, however beyond a threshold value of ψ, no additional gain is observed. The highest heating value of the syngas obtained from the experiments is found to be 3 MJ/Nm3, whereas the corresponding carbon conversion and cold gas efficiency are found to be 85%, and 48%, respectively. At low fluidization numbers, agglomerates are formed due to local hotspots, as the collected ash sample has small alkali content.

Keywords: Gasification; Bubbling fluidized bed; High-ash coals; Carbon conversion; Cold gas efficiency; Agglomeration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:244:y:2022:i:pb:s0360544221031170

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.122868

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