Combustion method

Claim 2

A two-stage method for combustion of solid fuels with a circulating fluidized bed disposed in a combustor, the method comprising the steps of: providing a combustion chamber having a lower portion and an upper portion; providing oxygen-containing fluidizing gas; establishing a bed of solid fuel particles disposed in the combustion chamber; introducing the oxygen-containing fluidizing gas into the bed; fluidizing the bed with the oxygen-containing fluidizing gas; promoting combustion of the fuel particles; producing flue gases; entraining a portion of the fuel particles by the flue gases; separating the entrained portion of the fuel particles from the flue gases; recirculating a portion of the separated fuel particles to the combustion chamber; subjecting the flue gases separated from the fuel particles to after-burning by admixing oxygen-containing gas therewith; maintaining substantially oxidizing conditions in a gas phase at the lower portion of the combustion chamber; and maintaining approximately stoichiometric conditions in a gas phase at the upper portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the steps of providing low and medium volatile fuels for combustion and a dry and ashless substance, the low and medium volatile fuels having a volatile content of between 1% and 63% based on the dry and ashless substance and maintaining an air ratio of between 0.9 and 1.1 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of maintaining an air ratio includes the step of maintaining an air ratio of between about 0.95 and about 1.05 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 3 wherein the step of maintaining an air ratio includes the step of maintaining an air ratio of between about 0.98 and about 1.03 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of maintaining an air ratio includes the step of maintaining an air ratio of about 1 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 5 wherein the step of maintaining an air ratio includes the step of maintaining an air ratio of at least 1 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the steps of providing high volatile fuels for combustion and a dry and ashless substance, the high volatile fuels having a volatile content of between 63% and 92% based on the dry and ashless substance and maintaining an air ratio of between 0.8 and 1.1 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 7 wherein the step of maintaining an air ratio includes the step of maintaining an air ratio of between about 0.95 and about 1.05 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 8 wherein the step of maintaining an air ratio includes the step of maintaining an air ratio of between about 0.98 and about 1.03 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of maintaining an air ratio includes the step of maintaining an air ratio of about 1 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 10 wherein the step of maintaining an air ratio includes the step of maintaining an air ratio of at least 1 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the steps of: providing secondary air; supplying a total amount of secondary air to the lower portion of the combustion chamber; separating a portion of the secondary air supplied to the lower portion of the combustion chamber, the portion accounting for up to 15% of the total amount; supplying the portion of the separated secondary air to a section of the combustion chamber that is disposed above the lower portion of the combustion chamber; burning the fuel particles; and maintaining approximately oxidizing conditions in the gas phase at the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 12 wherein the portion of secondary air accounts for up to 10% of the total amount of secondary air.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 12 wherein the portion of secondary air accounts for up to 5% of the total amount of secondary air.

Claim 16

A two-stage method for combustion of solid fuels with a circulating fluidized bed disposed in a combustor, the method comprising the steps of: providing a combustion chamber having a lower portion and an upper portion; providing oxygen-containing fluidizing gas and secondary air; providing a dry and ashless substance; providing volatile fuels having a volatile content of between 1% and 92% based on the dry and ashless substance; establishing a bed of solid fuel particles disposed in the combustion chamber; introducing the oxygen-containing fluidizing gas into the bed; fluidizing the bed with the oxygen-containing fluidizing gas; promoting combustion of the fuel particles; producing flue gases; entraining a portion of the fuel particles by the flue gases; separating the entrained portion of the fuel particles from the flue gases; recirculating a portion of the separated fuel particles to the combustion chamber; subjecting the flue gases separated from the fuel particles to after-burning by admixing oxygen-containing gas therewith; supplying a total amount of secondary air to the lower portion of the combustion chamber; separating a portion of the secondary air supplied to the lower portion of the combustion chamber, the portion accounting for up to 5% of the total amount; supplying the portion of the separated secondary air to a section of the combustion chamber that is disposed above the lower portion of the combustion chamber; burning the fuel particles; maintaining substantially oxidizing conditions in a gas phase at the lower portion of the combustion chamber; maintaining approximately stoichiometric conditions in a gas phase at the upper portion of the combustion chamber; and maintaining an air ratio of about 1 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.

Claim 17

A two-stage method for combustion of solid fuels with a circulating fluidized bed disposed in a combustor, the method comprising the steps of: providing a combustion chamber having a lower portion and an upper portion; providing oxygen-containing fluidizing gas and secondary air; providing a dry and ashless substance; providing volatile fuels having a volatile content of between 1% and 92% based on the dry and ashless substance; establishing a bed of solid fuel particles disposed in the combustion chamber; introducing the oxygen-containing fluidizing gas into the bed; fluidizing the bed with the oxygen-containing fluidizing gas; promoting combustion of the fuel particles; producing flue gases; entraining a portion of the fuel particles by the flue gases; separating the entrained portion of the fuel particles from the flue gases; recirculating a portion of the separated fuel particles to the combustion chamber; subjecting the flue gases separated from the fuel particles to after-burning by admixing oxygen-containing gas therewith; supplying a total amount of secondary air to the lower portion of the combustion chamber; separating a portion of the secondary air supplied to the lower portion of the combustion chamber, the portion accounting for up to 5% of the total amount; supplying the portion of the separated secondary air to a section of the combustion chamber that is disposed above the lower portion of the combustion chamber; burning the fuel particles; maintaining substantially oxidizing conditions in a gas phase at the lower portion of the combustion chamber; maintaining approximately stoichiometric conditions in a gas phase at the upper portion of the combustion chamber; and maintaining an air ratio of about 1 in the lower portion of the combustion chamber.