Effect of shape and size of wood on primary fragmentation in labotatory scale fluidized bed combustor

Paper in proceeding, 2006

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the primary fragmentation of hard wood (Casuarina Equisetifolia) of cylindrical, cuboidal and spherical shapes with sizes varying from 10 mm to 30 mm in a laboratory-scale atmospheric bubbling fluidized bed combustor. The extent of primary fragmentation was found to increase with the size of the wood particle. Particles above 10 mm size were found to fragment, though to different degrees. The process of primary fragmentation is due to a complex combination of volatiles pressure and thermal and shrinkage stresses. Thermal shock was not found to cause primary fragmentation.