Fluidised bed combustors and their application to sugar mills

The fluidised bed combustor (FBC) is a significant new device for the burning of a wide range of fuels, including black coal, lignite, soil and oil shale as well as industrial and agricultural wastes. Not only does it operate at high efficiency but it creates little pollution. In many cases, to change from one fuel to another requires only minor, if any, conversion. Despite these apparent advantages and recent developments that have brought the FBC to a reasonably advanced state, its acceptance has been rather slow in Australia. Its use by the sugar industry could increase the range of fuels available as alternatives and increase the opportunities for the export of power.