Background:Coal gasification is the promising technology for syngas routes to produce chemicals or transportation fuels. Additionally, it enables clean power generation from coal in Integrated Gasification Combined Cycles (IGCC). So far, coal fines with high ash contents could not be feasibly used in such routes.In this regard, the Internal Circulation gasifier (INCI) is designed to gasify high-ash coal fines efficiently. The staged system is combining a moving bed, a fluidized bed and a jetting fluidized bed in one reaction chamber.
Method:The present paper substantially describes the laboratory-scale prototype development in the COORVED-project ("CO2-reduction by innovative gasifier design") based on the INCI gasification principle of about 50-125 kW thermal input. Information about the gasifiers compounding, especially the reaction chamber, peripheral components and applied measurement systems are given.
Results:Experimental results are presented, confirming the targeted, typical flow pattern inside the reaction chamber. Furthermore technical and operational limits of the COORVED prefiguration are discussed. Based on these results a major design change of the reaction chamber is required and explained in detail. Additionally, results of the feedstock variation from coke to lignite are shown.
Conclusion:Finally, the operability of the INCI gasification principle is proven by a stationary operating system with controlled ash agglomeration.