Fluidized-bed incineration of refuse-derived fuel pellets

Combustion characteristics of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) pellets were investigated in a fluidized-bed incinerator in cocombustion mode with propane gas in an inert bed of fused alumina (about 800 μm average particle diameter). Effects of operating variables such as fluidizing gas velocity, bed temperature, fractional excess air, and fuel pellet feed rate on combustion efficiency were investigated. The incinerator was characterized by measuring the gas distributor pressure drop, minimum fluidization velocity, bed voidage, and temperature distribution. Fuel pellet combustion efficiency was found to increase linearly with increase in superficial gas velocity at a constant fuel feed rate and incinerator temperature