A numerical simulation study of ash deposition in a circulating fluidized bed during Zhundong lignite combustion

In the present work, a modified critical viscosity model considering condensation, thermophoresis and inertia impaction has been established to simulate ash deposition on a probe perpendicularly placed in the flue path in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) burning high-sodium (Na) Zhundong lignite (ZD). The key influencing factors including flue gas velocity (3 - 15 m/s) and temperature (1023 - 1123 K), probe surface temperature (773 - 873 K), particle temperature (1073 - 1173 K), particle size (5 - 127 mu m), and particle chemistry were systematically simulated and also experimental observed. The simulation results show that the thickness of the deposit on the windward side reached 3.4 mm over 6 h, which agreed well with the experimental observation. The deposit incurred an increase in the surface temperature to 1000 K, reducing the heat flux by 62.5 %. The mean size of the deposited ash at the stagnant point was found to be 25 - 30 mu m, signifying its role in the deposition initiation. This is attributed to the synergistic effect of particle impaction and particle sticking, since particles with a higher Stokes number (0 - 8) would have a higher impaction probability (0 - 0.3) but a lower sticking probability once their kinetic energy exceeds 11.4 x 10-9 J. Moreover, ash deposition is also found to be affected by flue gas temperature, followed by particle temperature and probe temperature to a less degree. In addition, particles with smaller sizes rich in Na tended to deposit on the probe than those particles with larger sizes and abundant in Si and Al, highlighting the role of Na in initiating ash deposition during ZD CFB combustion.

Automated summary

In this study, the effect of ash deposition during the combustion of high-sodium Zhundong lignite in a circulating fluidized bed was simulated and experimentally observed. The results showed that the thickness of the deposit and the increase in surface temperature were in agreement with the experimental observations. Factors such as particle size, chemistry, and flue gas temperature were found to affect ash deposition.