Method for reducing sulfur oxides emissions in a combustion process

A method of combustion comprising the steps of forming a bed of material containing limestone and fuel;

• introducing air into said bed to fluidize said material so that, upon combustion of said fuel, sulfur oxides are produced a portion of which are adsorbed by said limestone and a portion of which mix with said air, said mixture entraining some of said material;
• passing said mixture and entrained material from said bed;
• then separating a portion of said entrained material from said mixture;
• passing said separated portion of said entrained material back to said bed;
• then cooling said mixture and the remaining entrained material to reduce their value;
• then passing said mixture and remaining entrained material into a vessel at a plurality of levels thereof;
• breaking the stream of mixture and remaining entrained material into a plurality of smaller streams at one of said levels;
• dispersing water onto said mixture and remaining entrained material at said one level to evaporate and humidify said mixture at said one level, said temperature being such that said water causes a film of alkali solution of calcium hydroxide to be formed on the surface of the limestone in said entrained material, said solution adsorbing the sulfur oxides in said mixture to form calcium sulfate and calcium sulfite precipitation;
• and separating said mixture from said calcium sulfate and calcium sulfite precipitation.