ABB's PFBC fuel flexibility test program

Since 1995, extensive testing of different types of fuels has been carried out in a PFBC test rig (1 MW{sub thermal}) at ABB Carbon's development centre in Finspond, Sweden. Despite the small size of the test rig the main process parameters (temperature, pressure, bed height and excess air) equal those of a full scale PFBC. The fuels tested are all related to power plant projects under development including anthracite, brown coal, petroleum coke, oil shale, and coal mixed with biomass and even with sewage sludge. Combustion behavior, sinter and deposit formation, corrosion, heat transfer, emissions, etc. have been studied. The data collected are used to support the design of PFBC plants and to increase the knowledge of the behavior of different fuels in PFBC. In the following paper some test results from the PTF are presented and discussed with emphasis on the combustion behavior and emission performance (SO{sub x}, NO{sub x}, N{sub 2}O) of the different fuels tested. Also, a comparison between the PFT and three full sized boilers (Vaertan, Wakamatsu and Escatron) is presented. It is concluded that the PFT test rig can be used to test a wide variety of fuels without major modifications. It is also concludedmore » that the test rig is an invaluable tool to predict emissions, combustion efficiency, ash split, bed behavior, etc. in a full sized PFBC.« less