Burning and desulfurizing coal

Claim 1

Apparatus for burning and desulfurizing coal which comprises vessel means providing a first fluid bed zone for combustion therein of coal and a second fluid bed zone downstream of said first fluid bed zone for desulfurization therein of gaseous products of said combustion; means for feeding coal, including coal distribution means extending horizontally in said vessel for distribution of said coal over the area of said first fluid bed zone, coal inlet means connected to supply said coal distribution means, and means for introducing air, including fluidizing air distribution means within said vessel and extending horizontally across the upstream end of said first fluid bed zone to fluidize therein said coal and an incombustible particulate, and air inlet means connected to said fluidizing air distribution means to supply said air; support means extending within the vessel horizontally and cooperating with said air inlet means to define the upstream end of said first fluid bed zone, and hold thereover a fluidized bed mixture of said coal and said particulate for burning of said coal in said air while in said mixture; first outlet means from said first fluidized bed zone for removal therefrom of ash produced in said burning; heat transfer conduit means positioned in said first fluidized bed zone above said fluidizing air distribution means for removing from said first fluidized bed zone heat energy produced in said burning; fluidizing combustion gas distribution means extending horizontally across the upstream end of said second fluid bed zone; support means extending within the vessel horizontally and cooperating with said combustion gas distribution means to define the upstream end of said second fluid bed zone, and hold thereover a fluidized bed of sorbent for desulfurization thereby of said combustion gas during passage thereof therethrough; conduit means from the downstream end of said first fluid bed zone to supply combustion gas to said fluidizing combustion gas distribution means; sorbent inlet means for delivery therethrough of sorbent to said second fluidized bed zone; second outlet means for discharge from said second fluidized bed zone of spent sorbent; and a third outlet means downstream of said second fluidized bed zone for discharge through said third outlet means of said combustion gas.