Fluidized-bed Combustion of Lignite from Sulcis Basin.

The feasibility of fluidized-bed combustion of Italian ″Sulcis″ lignite, with high volatile and sulfur control, has been tested in a 40 mm ID laboratory combustor. The effect of excess air factor on the carbon load of the bed, on the elutriation rate of solid combustible matter and on the carbon monoxide concentration in flue gases has been evaluated. The comparison with experimental results obtained in the same apparatus with an imported medium volatile, bituminous coal, has shown that the ″Sulcis″ lignite is a fuel well suited to fluidized-bed combustion. Its high reactivity keeps low the carbon load of the bed and the elutriation losses. The drawback at the moment is the high sulfur concentration in combustion gases.