The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Jose Freire-Canosa

Colin R Phillips

A specially modified and adapted fluidized bed is used for heat transfer between gas streams, which have a substantial temperature differential. The fluidized bed is provided with first and second inlet ports for the gases and first and second upper zones, in respective substantial vertical alignment with one another, with outlet ports in the upper zones. The hot gas is led in through the first inlet port and out through the first outlet port, whilst the cooler gas is led in through the second inlet port and out through the second outlet port. Particles of the fluidized bed are permitted to flow between the hot zone and the cooler zone of the fluidized bed, but no significant mixing of the two gas streams takes place in the fluidized bed. Efficient heat transfer is effected through the bed. The apparatus may be used in a heat transfer process with inert fluidized bed particles, and may also be used in the fluidized bed gasification of coal, feeding air in through the first inlet port to cause exothermic reaction with the coal, and feeding water vapour in through the second inlet for gasification of the coal. In this manner, the exothermic reaction provides heat which is transferred to maintain the endothermic reaction in coal gasification.

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Toronto, Canada

Jose Freire-Canosa