The Hydrodynamic Behaviour of Gasifiers and Combustors

The constant increase in carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion and the recent legislation enforcing CO2 reduction will call for fundamental changes in energy demand, together with changes in fuel supply and use. New technology will be needed for the use of alternative renewable fuels (as, for instance biomass and wastes). Gasification offers a number of advantages, and more fundamental research in this area is in demand.

A fundamental model, originally developed for the hydrodynamics of suspension in bubbling beds, is extended to include effects relevant in circulating fluidised bed gasifiers and combustors. In particular, we investigate the extent of the solid/gas contact that can be achieved when the rate of heat transfer is high.