The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of iron oxide addition on the prevention of bed agglomeration during the fluidized bed incineration of refuse-derived fuels (RDFs) having different alkali contents. To investigate the extent of bed agglomeration as a function of the Fe2O3/(K2O+Na2O) molar ratio, a simulation was performed by using a thermodynamic equilibrium model. Based on this simulation, potassium (K) component exhibited a much higher affinity for iron (Fe) component than for silicon (Si) component, and the extent of agglomeration was remarkably reduced. Therefore, a small amount of iron oxide added to the bed effectively reduced the extent of bed agglomeration in the fluidized bed incineration process. Furthermore, the extent of agglomeration decreased as the molar ratio of Fe2O3/(K2O+Na2O) increased until unity was attained. In excess Fe2O3, no potassium silicate melts existed in the products, while the amount of sodium silicate melts remained constant.
Grubor BD, Oka SN, Ilic MS, Dakic DV, Arsic BT, Biomass FBC combustion-bed agglomeration problems, Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Fluidized Bed Combustion, 515, Orlando, Florida, 1995
Linjewile TM, Manzoori AR, Role of additives in controlling agglomeration and defluidization during fluidised bed combustion of high-sodium, high-sulphur low-rank coal, Engineering Foundation Conference on mineral matter in fuels; Impact of mineral impurities in solid fuel combustion, 319, New York, 1999