Specifically, the method using a rapid heating is effective from the standpoints of reducing equipment cost and aiming at a simple process. The national project, "SCOPE21", is believed to be rendered highly practicable through the process of drying and classifying by the fluidized bed prior to the rapid heating.
This paper clarifies, by the conduct of a pilot-plant test, the basic heating characteristics of the rapid heating tower, which is the principal one of the processes involved in the SCOPE21 process.
By the results of temperature measurement of coarse coal and fine coal in the rapid heater, the effectiveness of the simulation model of the rapid heating process were verified, and temperatures were inferred for each particle size, using this model. As a result, we have been able to attain the target coal-heating rate of higher value than 2000°C per minute and also the target of temperature uniformity of coal particles to less than 50°C, thereby obtaining a good prospect for achieving the expected heating performance.
Regarding the behaviors of coal particles within the sectional heater in the pilot plant, from the good dispersion of coal particles inside the tower, we have ascertained that biased distribution of coal particles charged into the heater become approximately uniform at the top of the tower 25 m in height.
Cracking of coal particles within the rapid heater and other basic engineering data for the design of commercial plant have been gathered and tasks sorted out.