Mathematical modeling of a Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) lignite combustor

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Future power generation in Canada will consist of a mixture of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), renewables (biomass, wind power, hydro) and nuclear. In recent years, most new generation capacity has been natural gas, with biomass and wind making some in-roads. However, the cost of natural gas in North America has increased steadily, translating into increased power rates for the public. Furthermore, renewable fuels such as biomass and wind are more environmentally friendly with respect to carbon emissions, but they can not be expected to completely replace our dependance on fossil fuels. New hydroelectric stations will be hindered by increased awareness of the impact of these facilities on the local watershed while the scale of nuclear plants will limit their installation to those areas of the country with high population densities or with an accessible energy export market. Nuclear facilities will also need to deal with the long-term storage of the solid nuclear waste. The above discussion of the alternatives for power generation leads to the realization that coal will continue to play an important role in Canada's energy future. With more than 8 billion tonnes of proven reserves in Canada, coal represents a vast, secure domestic energy source that will be of strategic economic importance to the country. However, environmental challenges are the main issue facing continued or increased coal use. Circulating fluidized bed combustors (CFBCs) represent a proven technology in use throughout the world for the conversion of low-rank coals to electrical energy in an environmentally sound manner. In order to further optimize the efficiency and environmental performance of CFBCs, an improved fundamental understanding of these systems is needed. The proposed research will contribute to this understanding through the development of a comprehensive CFBC mathematical model. The research will be carried out in collaboration with SaskPower with the emphasis placed on the combustion of lignite fuel - the main type of coal in Saskatchewan.