FBC: AN ENVIRONMENTALLY AND ECONOMICALLY ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR BURNING LOW-RANK COAL.

Low-rank coals represent a large energy resource for the U. S. Although pulverized coal- and stoker-fired furnaces are currently the dominate choice for combusting low-rank coals, there are many problems associated with these combustion methods including ash fouling and slagging, clinker formation, and high costs for emissions control. Atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) promises to be an environmentally and economically acceptable alternative to conventional combustion of low-rank coals. Advantages of AFBC include: lower costs for emissions control, less fuel preparation, improved heat transfer, and reduced ash fouling. Several evaluations have shown favorable economics for AFBC systems compared to conventional combustion systems when control of SO//2 is required. Market acceptance of AFBC's should be enhanced once several large scale AFBC's now under construction become operational.