IEA FBC Implementing Agreement Fluidized Bed Conversion (working period 2009 - 2013)

The IEA Implementing Agreement Fluidized Bed Conversion (FBC) is a success story with a already quite long tradition. Austria's participation started in 1999 and was the operating agent during 2000 - 2002 and 2011 - 2013. During the last years the number of member countries increased significantly with USA, China, Russia, Poland, Greece, Czech Republic and as youngest member with Hungary to a total of 18 members.

This strong interest shows the activity and the attractivity of the Implementing Agreement to further contribute to the develop of fluidized bed technology with its challenges and broad applications.

The IEA Fluidized Bed Conversion Implementing Agreement supports as "Task Shared" agreement the information exchange between its members. International and national workshops, conferences, Executive Committee Meetings were organised as well as fluidized bed units were visited and their data collected and analyzed, reports published and meetings with all stakeholders were organized (see e.g. www.iea-fbc.org). With this networking and information exchange the national and international trends were obtained and supported. The most important ones are described in the following.

Scale - up of fluidized bed boilers to a size range of 600 to 800 MWe with high efficiencies and with coal as the main fuel and biomass is a very important development. Another significant challenge is the utilization of a wide range of fuels at the same time in the size range from 15 to 150 MWth, using biomass and waste, reducing emissions by increasing plant availability. Also the development of small, decentralized units (e.g. below 10 MWth) using e.g. sewage sludge is a trend. Beside this, the fluidized bed technology may contribute to CO2 reduction by contributing to oxyfuel combustion which has been successfully demonstrated up to 30 MWth. Also using fluidized bed technology for chemical looping combustion (CLC) may contribute to CO2 reduction by producing a CO2 - rich flue gas which is easier to separate. Fluidized bed technology is successfully applied in biomass gasification. New and larger units have been built here. The produced synthesis gas can be converted into electricity with an gas engine or can be the basis for the production of Fischer - Tropsch diesel.

In Austria there are 27 fluidized bed units ranging from 1 to 133 MWth with a total thermal power of more than 1000 MW. They are utilized in the pulp and paper industry by about 50%, followed by the combustion of waste, biomass and sewage sludge. A broad range of fuels is used as biomass, waste, sludges and coal. In Austria all stakeholders of fluidized bed technology are present including research and academic, plant operators, plant manufacturers, ministry and authorities.

To be able to solve the present and future challenges of the development of fluidized bed technology excellent networking between the different stakeholders on the national, European and worldwide level is very important. The IEA Implementing Agreement Fluidized Bed Conversion contributes significantly.

Status Reports

Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Schweden, Spain, United Kingdom

Institut für Verfahrenstechnik, Umwelttechnik und
technische Biowissenschaften
Technische Universität Wien
a.o.Univ.Prof.Dr. Franz Winter
Getreidemarkt 9/166
A-1060 Wien
Tel.: +43 (1) 58801-166-301
Mobil: +43 (676) 6908002
Fax: +43 (1) 58801-166-99
Web: www.vt.tuwien.ac.at