Computer modeling of coal gasification reactors, Year 2. Annual report, June 1976--June 1977

Abstract

The purpose of this three year program is to develop and apply general computer models that will expedite the development and aid in the optimization and scale-up of reactors for coal gasification. Initial applications will be to fluidized bed gasification processes; subsequently both entrained flow reactors and fast fluidized beds will be examined. During the first year (Year 1), work will be initiated on the fluidized bed model in the areas of multiphase fluid flow without chemical reactions, and chemical reactions wthout fluid fow. The models, developed to represent these aspects of gasification processes, will be combined in the second year (Year 2) of the program into a numerical model of a time-dependent field description of fluidized bed flows in two space dimensions. Calculations will be performed with the prototype code during Years 1 and 2 to verify the accuracy of the formulations employed. In Year 2, these calculations should provide some preliminary results relevant to coal gasification. During Year 2, a computer model for entrained flow gasifiers will be formulated and the coal chemistry defined; this model will provide a field description of entrained flows in two and three spatial dimensions. Nonreactive flow calculations will be performed for entrained flow processes by the end of Year 2. In the third year (Year 3) of the program, application of the fluidized bed computer model to specific gasifier processes will be extended and a model which includes three-dimensional effects developed. Also, during this third year the coal chemistry defined in Year 2 will be combined with the entrained flow computer model and some calculations of such gasifier configurations performed.