Effect of mixing and particle size on calcination and sulphation of limestones in an isothermal flow reactor

Effects of mixing and particle size on the results of sorbent calcination and sulphation experiments conducted in the isothermal flow reactor of the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) are discussed. Experimental and theoretical calculations showed that the effect of sorbent mixing conditions in the reactor cannot be ignored when evaluating a short-time, high-temperature sulphation process. Recirculation of the sorbent back into the reactor increased its reactivity. The reactivity was affected by both gas and solid mixing, especially at the throat of the reactor tube, and by the particle size, due to fragmentation and agglomeration of particles during the experiments.