Prospects for the Low Pollutant Emission Control of Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion Technology

With the pollutant emission standards becoming increasingly stringent and considering the pressure of carbon neutral by 2060, the low pollutant emission potential of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustion technology needs to be further exploited, thus to promote the market competitiveness of CFB boilers; this is critical for the clean and efficient utilization of coal as well as for the energy transformation in China. In this article, we summarize the pollutant emission characteristics of CFB combustion, and review the development of major technologies for CFB boiler emission control. Based on the energy development strategies and corresponding policies in China, development suggestions are proposed for reducing pollutant emission of the CFB combustion technology. The most significant approach is to push the limits of original pollutant emission for CFB combustion by re-specifying the fluidization state and through in-furnace combustion adjustment, while the boiler thermal efficiency should be ensured. For the long-term development of coal energy, the new-generation CFB combustion technology with ultra-low emission should be researched and developed while combining with technologies such as supercritical/ultra-supercritical, intelligent operation, carbon capture, utilization, and storage, and energy storage technologies. The existing CFB boilers with small or medium capacity should also be upgraded. Considering the fuel flexibility of CFB combustion, biomass power generation should be promoted to realize low-cost and high-efficiency consumption of low-heat value fuels, urban refuse, industrial wastes, etc. The peak load regulation capacity and low pollutant emission property of the CFB boilers should be promoted to improve operation flexibility and renewable energy consumption. Moreover, the desulphurization ash produced in CFB combustion should be comprehensively utilized, and the N2O emission problem is also significant. The pollutant emission standards and related policies need to be formulated from an overall perspective to guide the healthy development of the energy industry.