The Chemically Active Fluid Bed (CAFB) process was developed by the Esso Research Centre, Abingdon (ERCA), England as a means to generate electrical energy from high sulfur, high metal heavy fuel oil. Fuel oil is fed continuously into a fluidized bed of limestone maintained at 870C by preheated, substoichiometric air. The fuel oil entering the gasifier is vaporized, oxidized, cracked and reduced to produce a low-Btu, low-sulfur gas which is then burned in a conventional boiler. Sulfur contained in the oil initially forms various gaseous compounds which then react with the bed limestone to yield solid calcium sulfide. The sulfided lime is cycled to a regeneration unit where it is oxidized to produce CaO which is returned to the gasifier and SO2 which is sent to a sulfur recovery unit. An additional feature of the CAFB process is that the gasifier bed material adsorbs vanadium, nickel and sodium contained in the fuel oil, thus limiting air emissions of these trace elements. The objective of this study was to conduct a preliminary environmental assessment of the CAFB. To attain these goals, a systematic evaluation of all waste streams from the CAFB was made and a process emissions inventory was compiled.

Prepared by GCA Corporation under Contract No. 68-02-1316, Task 14, Program Element No. EHB537. "October 1976." "EPA/600-7-76-017." Includes bibliographical references.