THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A PROGRAM TO DEVELOP SCALING LAWS NEEDED FOR THE COST-EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION OF COAL BURNING FLUIDIZED BED COMBUSTION.

THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A PROGRAM TO DEVELOP SCALING LAWS NEEDED FOR THE COST-EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION OF COAL BURNING FLUIDIZED BED COMBUSTION. THERE IS NOW A NATIONAL NEED FOR A CLEAN METHOD TO BURN HIGH SULFUR COAL. IN THE NEXT DECADE, THE UTILITY INDUSTRY EXPECTS TO INTRODUCE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY BOILERS WHICH CAN CLEANLY BURN HIGH-SULFUR COAL. CURRENTLY, THESE DEVICES HAVE BEEN PROVEN ONLY AT SMALL SCALE. THE SCALE-UP OF THESE BOILERS TO COMMERCIAL SIZE WILL INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK. THIS RISK COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED IF THE PROPER SCALING FACTORS WERE KNOWN. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP THESE SCALING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH FRACTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE EQUATIONS GOVERNING FLUIDFLOW AND HEAT TRANSFER IN FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTORS.