EFFECT OF DISTRIBUTOR DESIGN ON TEMPERATURE PROFILES IN FLUIDIZED BED DURING THE COMBUSTION OF RICE HUSK

The conventional method of paddy husk combustion in grate type furnaces is slow and inefficient yielding low combustion efficiency. Fluidized bed combustion of paddy husks was proved to be a feasible solution for efficient combustion along with high combustion intensity. In the present work combustion studies of rice husk were conducted in an atmospheric fluidized bed in high excess air environment with variation in distributor design. Significant changes in temperature profiles in the fluidization vessel have been observed with variation of opening area of distributor. It is found that a straight, multi-orifice type with opening area of 2.6% is appropriate distributor to maintain uniform temperatures along the bed.