Development of the Bed Particle Size Distribution in a Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustor

In the present work a particle population balance model for a circulating fluidized bed combustor (CFBC) is developed that allows a description of the fate of individual particles in terms of attrition and transport effects. Besides the operating conditions and the particle size distribution the residence time of particles in the system is considered in the modeling of abrasion and shrinking of particles. The model takes account of the fact that fresh particles have a higher attrition rate than particles which have stayed for some time already in the system. The model aims at the description of the dynamic adjustment of the particle size distributions in a given system. The model has been validated with experimental data from a pilot-plant combustor, i.e. a CFBC with an inner diameter of 0.1 m and a height of 15 m. A comparison between experimental and calculated data shows the applicability of the model.