The effect of staging of reburning fuel to reduce NO{sub x} and N{sub 2}O levels during fluidized bed coal combustion

Studies have been undertaken with the objective of using biomass waste as a reburning fuel which could be introduced to the combustor at different heights. The staging of the secondary air was also implemented as a further measure for controlling the emissions of NO{sub x} and N{sub 2}O. The biomass waste contains very high volatile content and very small amounts of fuel-N. Upon release, these volatiles are generally released as NH{sub y} compounds rather than HCN or other CN groups. Consequently, the reactions leading to the formation of both N{sub 2}O and NO{sub x} appear to be suppressed and the presence of high levels of hydrocarbon radicals originating from volatiles consequently gives rise to a reduction in NO{sub x} amounts. Experimental results obtained suggest that the N{sub 2}O amounts could be lowered by about 20 to 40% and NO{sub x} values were found to be brought down below 250 ppm. With only coal combustion the levels of NO{sub x} and N{sub 2}O were measured to be about 400 and 100 ppm respectively. No adverse effects on SO{sub 2} capture were observed.