Refractory failure in entrained-flow gasifier: Vision-based macrostructure investigation in a bench-scale OMB gasifier

Abstract

As the key component of the entrained-flow gasifier, the refractory experiences high temperature, while also suffering the impacts of high speed gas flow and massive particle impacts accompanied with molten slag. These issues are causing corrosion and erosion that shorten the gasifier service life. Based on a bench-scale opposed multi-burner (OMB) gasifier, the refractory macrostructure failure is investigated by vision-based techniques. The whole refractory is cut into cross-sections and along the vertical direction to study the corrosion. From these samples, it is possible to classify the refractory failure into six zones by utilizing the penetration depth (calculated by area) coupled with simulations of particle trajectories. Refractory surface erosion is investigated through contour arithmetical mean deviation by employing a light field camera to measure the surface height distribution in each cross section. The space distributions of refractory corrosion and erosion present different characteristics which could guide the future design and optimization of OMB gasifiers. The extent of corrosion distribution can be concluded as follows: impinging up-flow zone>impinging down-flow zone>dome zone>impinging/burner zone>plug-flow zone>cone zone. Meanwhile, the extent of surface erosion distribution can be concluded as follows: impinging down-flow zone>impinging/burner zone>cone zone>dome zone>impinging up-flow zone and plug-flow zone.