SHALLOW FLUIDIZED BED RECUPERATOR

FLUE GASES FROM INDUSTRIAL PLANTS ARE AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF HIGH GRADE ENERGY WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO TAP DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF AGGRESSIVE SPECIES SUCH AS CHLORINE AND SULFUR COMPOUNDS. THE SHALLOW BED RECUPERATOR CONCEPT HOLDS PROMISE AS A COST-EFFECTIVE MEANS TO RECLAIM THE FLUE GAS WASTE ENERGY AND TO PURGE IT OF HARMFUL PARTICULATES AND GASEOUS MATTER. THE SHALLOW BED RECUPERATOR PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HAD MANY SUCCESSES, BUT WAS ABANDONED AFTER THE TUBULAR GRID CERAMIC BED SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE FAILURE IN THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. THE CAUSES UNDERLYING THE FAILURE OF THE CERAMIC BED CONCEPT ARE EXPLAINED, AND AN INTERNALLY COOLED METALLICBED CONCEPT IS PROPOSED. THE PROPOSED CONCEPT, TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, NEVER SUGGESTED OR ATTEMPTED, REMOVESALL DEFICIENCIES WHICH FOREORDAINED THE CERAMIC BED FAILURE. THE CONCEPT, NOVEL IN ITS PRESENT APPLICATION, HOWEVER, DRAWS UPON THE WELL KNOWN "SKIN EFFECT" PHENOMENON IN HEAT EXCHANGER TUBESHEETS. THIS RESEARCH IS FOCUSED TOWARDS EVOLVING A HIGH INTEGRITY BED PLATE WHICH WOULD ENSURE RELIABLE RECUPERATOR OPERATION UNDER STEADY STATE, AND FLOW TURN-DOWN CONDITIONS.