THE CFB BOILER IN GARDANNE - AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF ITS BOTTOM ZONE

Paper in proceeding, 1999

Different measurement techniques have been used to analyze the fluid dynamics in the bottom zone of the 250 MWe Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) boiler in Gardanne, France. In particular, horizontal profiles of the local solids volume concentration have been measured with a capacitance probe and the vertical pressure profile has been measured by a probe with densely spaced pressure taps. Local velocities were measured by cross-correlating the signals of a twochannel capacitance probe. In order to get some information on the influence of the flow structure on local combustion conditions a probe has been used which combines both capacitance and zirconia-cell sensors. This probe measured simultaneously local solids volume concentrations, local velocities and the local presence of oxygen. The results show the existence of a dense bed with a bed height of about 2% of the total riser height. This bottom bed has a flow structure which is different from the core-annulus structure observed in the upper dilute zone of the CFB combustor by several researchers (e.g. Berruti et al. (1995)). The lateral solids mixing does not seem to be enough to provide an even distribution of char over the whole cross-section of the bottom bed. Nevertheless, an even temperature distribution has been found indicating that mixing is sufficient to equalize the uneven heat generation.