The attrition and calcination characteristics of domestic limestones for in-situ desulfurization in circulating fluidized bed boilers

In order to investigate the behavior of limestones which have been usually used for in-situ desulfurization reaction in circulating fluidized bed combustors, the attrition characteristics and calcination reactions of domestic limestones were analyzed in this study by using a thermogravimetric analyzer and an ASTM D5757-95 attrition tester. The average size distribution of limestones in circulating fluidized bed boilers have to be changed due to the attrition of particle-particle and particle-reactor wall and the calcination reaction. Domestic limestones might be used in commercial circulating fluidized bed boilers, but the attrition behaviors and particle size changes of limestones were varied. In calcination experiments at 850 oC, the calcination reaction were varied with limestone samples. The calcination reaction time increased with an increase of particle size. Also, fine particles generated the attrition test of calcined limestone was 20% higher than those generated the attrition test of original limestone.