Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for measuring the height of a solid bed in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system, and a fluidized bed system having the solid bed height measuring apparatus. The solid bed height measuring apparatus includes a lower pressure probe mounted at an upper side as high as a first height from a gas distributor of a fluidized bed reactor to measure pressure of the mounted location, and a middle pressure probe mounted at an upper side as high as a second height from the lower probe to measure pressure of the mounted location. An upper pressure probe is mounted at the top of the fluidized bed reactor to measure the inside pressure of the fluidized bed reactor. First and second differential pressure gauges are used for measuring differential pressures.

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for measuring the height of a solid bed in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system, and a fluidized bed system having the solid bed height measuring apparatus. The solid bed height measuring apparatus includes a lower pressure probe mounted at an upper side as high as a first height from a gas distributor of a fluidized bed reactor to measure pressure of the mounted location, and a middle pressure probe mounted at an upper side as high as a second height from the lower probe to measure pressure of the mounted location. An upper pressure probe is mounted at the top of the fluidized bed reactor to measure the inside pressure of the fluidized bed reactor. First and second differential pressure gauges are used for measuring differential pressures.

A process for combusting coke from catalyst in partial burn mode is disclosed. The partial burn regenerator runs deprived of oxygen such that the flue gas will contain a fair amount of carbon monoxide. The oxygen present in the flue gas can burn in the bed before reaching the dilute phase. The catalyst distributor is positioned in the upper chamber of the regeneration vessel for discharging the catalyst.

The invention relates to a method for starting up a fluidized bed boiler, such as a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) or a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler, for operation with a predetermined concentration of ilmenite particles in the bed material. The invention also relates to a method for pre-oxidizing ilmenite, to pre-oxidized ilmenite and to the use of pre-oxidized ilmenite in a fluidized bed boiler.

The invention relates to a method for starting up a fluidized bed boiler, such as a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) or a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler, for operation with a predetermined concentration of ilmenite particles in the bed material. The invention also relates to a method for pre-oxidizing ilmenite, to pre-oxidized ilmenite and to the use of pre-oxidized ilmenite in a fluidized bed boiler.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reactor, a reheater for forming a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater. The inorganic particle cooler comprises a shell portion and a tube portion. The inorganic particle cooler is configured such that the shell portion receives a portion of the heated inorganic particles and the tube portion receives a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the portion of the heated inorganic particles to form partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reactor, a reheater for forming a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater. The inorganic particle cooler comprises a shell portion and a tube portion. The inorganic particle cooler is configured such that the shell portion receives a portion of the heated inorganic particles and the tube portion receives a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the portion of the heated inorganic particles to form partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.

An expansion joint for a solids return system includes a female joint portion, a male joint portion received by the female joint portion, the male joint portion and the female joint portion forming a lateral breach therebetween, a double rope seal positioned within the lateral breach, the double rope seal being configured to accommodate relative lateral movement between the female joint portion and the male joint portion, and an insulating pillow received about the male joint portion and abutting a distal end surface of the female joint portion, the insulating pillow being configured to accommodate relative axial movement between the female joint portion and the male joint portion.

An expansion joint for a solids return system includes a female joint portion, a male joint portion received by the female joint portion, the male joint portion and the female joint portion forming a lateral breach therebetween, a double rope seal positioned within the lateral breach, the double rope seal being configured to accommodate relative lateral movement between the female joint portion and the male joint portion, and an insulating pillow received about the male joint portion and abutting a distal end surface of the female joint portion, the insulating pillow being configured to accommodate relative axial movement between the female joint portion and the male joint portion.

The present disclosure provides a method for distributing gas for oxy-fuel combustion on a circulating fluidized bed. In the method, the gas is provided by three stages into a furnace of the circulating fluidized bed. The method includes: blowing in a first-stage gas containing oxygen and recycled flue gas from the bottom of the furnace; blowing in a second-stage gas containing recycled flue gas from a transition zone between a dense-phase zone and a dilute-phase zone of the furnace; and blowing in a third-stage gas containing oxygen from a side wall of the furnace.