Reduction of devolatilization rate of fuel during bubbling fluidized bed combustion using porous bed material

Plastic waste combustion in bubbling fluidized bed combustors (BFBC) is characterized by the rapid devolatilization of the fuel. Noncombusted hydrocarbons are often formed, which have been reported to promote the formation of dioxins. In this work, porous bed material was employed instead of commonly used non-porous sand to reduce the devolatilization rate. We measured 1) the heat transfer coefficient between an immersed object (brass sphere) and the bed and 2) the time required for the devolatilization of a plastic pellet after dropping it into the bed at 943 K. For porous particles we found a 30 % lower heat transfer coefficient, delayed onset of devolatilization and prolonged devolatilization time, compared with quartz sand. Therefore, porous particles were found to be effective in suppressing the rapid devolatilization of plastic waste.