Spouted Bed Reactor Designs for Thermal Desorption of Mercury Compounds

Thermal desorption systems are being utilized to remove toxic mercury compounds from coal. However, high moisture level, poor mixing, and unsuitable heating rate reduce the efficiency of thermal desorption units. Spouted bed reactor, which have been used in various physical operations such as drying, presents a possible solution in reducing moisture level and increasing particles mixing. The proposed program will develop and investigate spouted bed reactor designs and configurations in mercury removal using thermal desorption technique. Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT)’s innovative reactor designs aim to further enhance particle mixing in the annulus region, thus, further increase the effectiveness of mercury removal using spouted bed. The proposed new spouted bed reactor designs are the key innovation that will increase performance of mercury removal process. ACT, in collaboration with Lehigh University, will perform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis to determine the efficiency of the spouted bed and our innovative reactor designs, as well as validate the simulation results with lab- scale experimental testing. ACT will also work closely with our industrial partners to commercialize the technology. ACT will perform analysis using MFiX Discrete Element Model (DEM) to determine the efficiency of the baseline and our innovative spouted bed reactor designs. Parametric studies will be performed to investigate particle size distribution, flow rate, temperature, heating rate, and feed location. A baseline spouted bed and a novel spouted bed reactor will be designed and fabricated at ACT and tested at Lehigh University’s Energy Research Center. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The proposed technology will utilize innovative spouted bed reactor designs to improve mercury removal efficiency of thermal desorption unit. As such, the proposed technology will reduce the cost of coal cleaning and make coal as fuel more competitive to petroleum.