Study on natural gas combustion in fluidized beds: modelling and experimental validation

A simulation model of homogeneous combustion of air-methane mixture in a fluidized bed composed of inert particles was established. This model, based on the assumptions of the bubble assemblage model, accounts for the thermal exchanges between phases and the radiating exchange with the wall. The experimental study was performed on a pilot fluidized-bed reactor 180 mm in diameter, fitted axially with sampling probes for analysing the gas composition. For bed temperature ranging between 850 and 950 degrees C, the comparison of the measured gas compositions and the theoretical results showed a good agreement as regards the methane conversion rate along the bed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.