Modelling of NOx Formation in a Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler

A detailed kinetic model for the oxidation of NH3 and reduction of NO in FBC is used to model the NO concentration profile in an 8 MW CFB. Three different fuels were burned in the full scale tests: Bituminous coal, brown coal and petroleum coke. Kinetics were measured in a laboratory reactor using samples of char and bed material from the boiler. The simulation results show that char is an important catalyst for the oxidation of NH3 and reduction of NO when burning bituminous coal and petroleum coke. The char content in the brown coal bed is low and very active bed material with a high ash content is the important catalyst in this case. Homogeneous gas phase reactions were found to have only a minor influence. The levels of NO concentration calculated are in agreement with the experimental results. It is concluded that modelling the fuel-N conversion using kinetics measured for the specific chars and bed materials is a considerable step towards a better understanding of the formation and reduction of NO in FBC