Gas distributor plates in fluidized bed systems

Since about 1985, fluidized bed combustion (FBC) has greatly extended the possibilities for operating power plants on the basis of solid fuels economically and in an
environmentally acceptable manner. In addition to the system-inherent possibilities for infurnace emission reduction, FBC can be adapted to an especially broad range of fuels, some of which with a very high ash content. The possibility of using pressurized fluidized bed gasification and combustion systems in coal/combined cycle power plants and thus achieving substantial improvements in resource conservation and CO2 reduction have been technically demonstrated.

Applying this still new FBC technology, VGB member companies have implemented many different designs. The large body of experience gained made it necessary to appoint a new VGB Technical Committee in 1989, which since then has rendered detailed accounts of any successes and analyzed weak spots.

The weak spots included the gas distributor plates.