Induced circulation among integrated bubbling zones

A fluidized bed reactor configured to react a fuel in a fluidized bed of bed solids, the reactor comprising:

• a bedwall configured to separate at least a portion of the fluidized bed of bed solids into:
• a LowOx reaction zone comprising:
• a LowOx gas inlet configured to fluidize at least a first portion of the bed solids within the LowOx reaction zone with a first gas to create a first bubbling fluidized bed, and
• a LowOx gas supply coupled to the LowOx gas inlet and configured to deliver the first gas to the LowOx gas inlet, the first gas comprising an inert and/or mildly-oxidizing gas;
• and
• a HiOx reaction zone comprising:
• an oxidant gas inlet configured to fluidize at least a portion of the bed solids within the HiOx reaction zone with a second gas to create a second bubbling fluidized bed, and
• a HiOx gas supply coupled to the oxidant gas inlet and configured to deliver the second gas to the oxidant gas inlet, wherein the second gas is more oxidizing than the first gas;
• a gaswall separating a gas phases above the fluidized bed of bed solids into:
• a volatilization stage comprising a fuel inlet configured to convey the fuel into the volatilization stage;
• and
• a combustion stage comprising an exhaust gas outlet configured to convey an exhaust gas out of the combustion stage;
• a lower edge of the gaswall below the height of the first and/or second bubbling fluidized beds to separate the gas phases
• an opening providing for a flow of bed solids between the LowOx and HiOx reaction zones;
• and
• a first splashgenerator coupled to a first transport gas supply and configured to inject a transport gas into a second portion of the bed solids within the LowOx reaction zone to drive a drivenflow comprising bed solids from the LowOx reaction zone past the bedwall to the HiOx reaction zone.