Design and construction of a pressurized fluidized bed pilot electric plant

The U.S. Utility Industry and large industrial energy users are searching for optimal methods both to convert existing oil and gas fired power plants to coal and to facilitate expansion of base and intermediate load capability required by the end of this decade. The Pressurized Fluidized Bed (PFB) concept is a unique method for direct combustion of coal which has had demonstrable progress toward accomplishing the goal of clean burning of high sulfur coal for efficient and low cost electric power generation. This paper discusses the completed design of a 13 MWe Pilot Plant and some of the research and development work that established the technology or confirmed the selected design criteria.