Characterization of alkali and sulfur sorbents for pressurized fluidized-bed combustion

Pressurized fluidized-bed combustion as applied to combined-cycle power generation has many advantages. Most important are high efficiency, fuel flexibility, and superior emissions control. The University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center is currently involved in a project to study further improvement of emissions control. The focus of this work has been utilizing in-bed sorbents for capture of sulfur and alkali. Results from the first series of tests utilizing kaolin for capturing alkali are reported, as are results from research to determine sulfur sorbent performance characteristics and to develop predictive techniques of sorbent classification in a pressurized fluidized-bed reactor.