Wastage of In-Bed Heat Transfer Surfaces in the Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustor at Grimethorpe

Abstract

The wastage of in-bed heat transfer surfaces has recently emerged as a potentially serious problem for both pressurized and atmospheric fluidized bed combustors. The experimental pressurized fluidized bed combustion facility at Grimethorpe has accumulated a considerable quantity of data covering the wastage of in-bed tubes obtained during a total of just over 3600 h of operation. The combustor operated with different tube banks, with some degree of wastage being experienced with each one. The data are described, evidence for possible solutions is presented, and plans for future tests at Grimethorpe to prove these solutions are outlined.

Abrasion Resistance of Materials

“…In the USA, observations of wastage of the in-bed tubes in several combustors have been reported (Kantesaria & Marchall, 1983, Montrone, 1983. In the UK, high wastage has been reported from the Grimethorpe plant, where wastages rates up to 1.7 mm per 1000 h were recorded on evaporator tubes (Anderson et al 1987).…”

Low Impact Velocity Wastage in FBCs - Experimental Results and Comparison Between Abrasion and Erosion Theories

“…The second pattern has the maximum wear at the bottom of the tube, decreasing to zero typically at about 45 0 . These patterns have been called "Class A" and "Class B" respectively (Stringer & Wright, 1987), and have been observed in cold simulations as well as in practical units (Anderson et al, 1987, Parkinson et al, 1985, Tsutsumi et al, 1989, Wang et al, 1992. It is interesting to note that Class A is related to the angle of impact corresponding to maximum wear in erosion of ductile metals.…”