Numerical study of the effect of the gas and solids distributors on the uniformity of the radial solids concentration distribution in CFB risers

The non-uniform radial solids distribution usually has a negative effect on the performance of the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) riser since it may greatly decrease the reactor efficiency and controllability. In order to improve the performance of industrial CFB risers, the numerical study of the effects of the gas distributor and solids distributor at the CFB riser inlet on the uniformity of the radial solids distribution was carried out in this study. Two potential approaches to improve the uniformity of radial solids concentration profile were proposed: (1) the use of the center-sparse side-dense air jets arrangement for the gas distributor and (2) the use of the side-covered arrangement for the solids distributor. The Eulerian-Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with kinetic theory of granular flow was adopted to simulate the gas-solids two-phase flow in a CFB riser with FCC particles. The numerical results show that the patterns of the inlet gas distributor and solids distributor have significant effect on the flow structure in both the entrance region and the fully-developed region in the riser. The gas distributor with center-sparse side-dense air jet arrangement improves the uniformity of the radial solids distribution, while the center-dense side-sparse air jet arrangement steepens the non-uniformity of the solids radial profile. The core-annulus structure can be greatly flattened by applying a side-covered solids distributor, while it can be heavily steepened by employing the center-covered solids distributor.     

Multi‐scale CFD simulation of operating diagram for gas–solid risers

Our recently presented multi‐scale computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach has proven to be able to capture the choking phenomena in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB). However, how to transfer this capability to assist industrial operation remains to be explored. To this end, this paper presents further simulation results over the intrinsic flow regime diagram and the operating diagram for gas–solid risers, showing the variation of flow regimes with gas velocity and solids flux as well as riser height. It is confirmed that the choking in CFB risers, characterized by the saturation carrying capacity and the coexistence of both dense and dilute flows, holds clear‐cut definition in hydrodynamics. In physics, both the choking, non‐choking transitions, and the critical point in‐between are intrinsic nature of gas–solid riser flows; they initiate as functions of gas velocity and solids flux. In engineering operation, however, their appearances vary with the riser height used. As a result, the intrinsic flow regime diagram can be defined by the combination of gas velocity and solids flux, although it is hard to obtain in practice owing to the limitation of riser height. The operating diagram of a CFB should be, accordingly, height‐dependent in practice, demanding the riser height as a parameter besides commonly believed gas velocity and solids flux.     

EMMS曳力模型及其颗粒团模型的构建和检验

准确描述颗粒团聚特性是发展完善基于多尺度最小能量原理（EMMS）的曳力模型的重要方向之一。提出描述颗粒团聚特性的数学模型,不仅符合物理判断,而且与实验结果吻合。采用颗粒团模型,改进EMMS曳力模型,与实验及直接数值模拟结果吻合较好。改进的曳力模型与欧拉-欧拉双流体方法耦合,实现了不同工况下A、B类颗粒流化床流动特性的数值模拟。成功预测了颗粒非均匀分布特性、局部滑移速度、局部非均匀度以及噎塞状态。     

Distinctions between low density and high density circulating fluidized beds

While many fundamental studies have been carried out in relatively low density circulating fluidized beds (LDCFB), there has been little reported fundamental study of the high density (including high solids flux and/or high solids concentration) circulating fluidized bed (HDCFB), although many commercial CFB setups are operating under high density conditions. Catalytic gas-phase reactions tend to require higher gas velocity and higher solids flux and/or concentration than gas-solids reactions, and therefore it is necessary to make a distinction between the two types of operations. The study of hydrodynamics and other fundamentals of HDCFB will help in understanding the fundamentals and thus improving the design and operation of existing HDCFB reactors such as FCC risers, and may also lead to other applications requiring even higher solids/gas feed ratios and/or higher solids concentration in the riser. On the other hand, high density operation can only be achieved by properly choosing the gas blower, solids feeding system and CFB geometry to avoid the instabilities resulting from insufficient pressure head from the gas blower and downcomers.     

回料流入口高度对循环流化床提升管流动特性的影响

The axial pressure drop profile and the radial solids distribution were measured in a circulating fluidized bed for evaluating the effects of return gas-solids stream position on the riser flow properties.The saturation carrying capacity of gas for Geldart B typed particles and the flow mode of return gas-solids stream in the bed were discussed.It was found that arranging the inlet at a higher position of the riser would make the bottom bed leaner when U₀ was high and G_s was low.When G_s increased,the longer influenced region of return particles and a small air-staging through lifting the loosening air injection position made the bottom bed become denser significantly.The deceleration and residence of return particles caused a relatively denser but asymmetrical region in the vicinity of inlet.But much more symmetrical solids distribution profile was found in the upper and lower regions far away from the inlet.The effects of inlet height on the flow properties of the riser with air-staging also were analyzed.The secondary air injection below the solids inlet could not cut off the solids exchange in the bed.The bed solids concentration increased when the particles inlet moved to a higher position of the bed when air-staging was adopted.Using CO₂ as tracer,the dispersion of the loop-seal-fluidizing air for transmitting the return particles was investigated.It was found that the loop-seal fluidizing air dispersion rate was low but can be enhanced by the secondary air injection.     

Flow phenomena in the exit zone of a circulating fluidized bed

An experimental investigation of the gas and solids flow in a pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed (CFB) cold model with two different abrupt exit configurations (L-shape and extended top) has been carried out. Measurements of axial pressure profiles, high-speed video images of the flow phenomena at the wall as well as local optical probe measurements inside the exit zone are presented. Contrary to published results obtained in bench-scale CFB risers the axial profiles of the apparent solids volume concentration obtained by pressure measurements showed no indication of an increased solids hold-up in the vicinity of the exit, which confirms the conclusion by Pugsley et al. (Can. J. Chem. Eng. 75 (1997) 1001) that this is a scale effect. The local probe measurements showed the well-known core–annulus flow structure prevailing until the riser top. In the vicinity of the exit this flow structure is superimposed by a strong horizontal velocity component directed to the exit duct. In comparison to the conventional L-shaped abrupt exit the extended top does not increase the solids inventory in the riser.     

上行气固两相流充分发展段的颗粒浓度

在Ф100mm× 16m循环床提升管实验装置上测试了134组操作条件下提升管 12个截面位置的平均颗粒浓度 ,其中 113组操作条件下提升管中的气固两相流展现出明确的充分发展段 .结果表明 ,充分发展段的颗粒浓度εs 随颗粒循环量G_s 的增加而增大且具有显著的线性关系 ,ε_s 随表观气速U_g 的增加以幂函数关系减小 .所提出的实验关联式不仅较好地拟合了本文所获得的充分发展段的平均颗粒浓度数据 ,而且诠释了以往有关提升管稀相段出口颗粒浓度预测结果之间的差异 ,更明确地反映了充分发展段颗粒浓度与操作参数之间的定量关系     

循环床提升管中粗重颗粒浓度的轴向分布

在10m高提升管中对空气-沙子体系的压力梯度进行系统测试,研究了粗重颗粒平均颗粒浓度云的轴向分布及操作条件对它的影响。结果表明,粗重颗粒的^εs在相同操作条件下显著低于FCC颗粒;随操作条件的不同,沙子颗粒表现出与FCC显著不同的轴向分布形态。高气速下粗重颗粒^εs的轴向分布与FCC相似表现为单调下降或直线形关系;但在表观气速Ug降低至某一临界值后,粗重颗粒^εs的轴向分布呈现出波动形式,表明沙子颗粒在提升管中的流动是一个加速-减速-再加速直至充分发展的过程。随Ug减小或Gs增大,提升管各截面上云升高;当^εs的轴向分布为波动形式时,提升管底部截面和中部颗粒聚集截面上^εs的变化较其它截面更为显著。     

内构件对于高密度提升管流体力学行为的影响

引　言近年发展的高密度提升管反应器 ,由于其较高的颗粒固含量 ,很容易达到很高的反应效率 .同时由于其具有的高气固通量、颗粒的循环操作方式和优良的传热性能 ,使得这一类反应器特别适宜于以中间产物为目的产品、要求高转化率和高选择性的强放热氧化 -还原类反应过程[1,2 ] .但大量实验表明 ,提升管特别是高密度提升管中空隙率、气体和颗粒速度沿径向的分布很不均匀 .这样将造成非常严重的颗粒和气体返混 ,固体颗粒停留时间分布变宽 ,反应程度参差不齐 ,造成反应器的处理能力偏低[1～ 4 ] .许多研究者采用在提升管中加设内构件的方法来改…     

Modeling of core flow in a gas-solids riser

The heterogeneous flow structure in gas-solids riser reactors is typically represented by an upward solids flow in the core region and a back-mixing downward solids flow in the wall region. The hydrodynamic and reaction characteristics in these two regions are highly different, as most reactions with fresh catalyst solids occur in the core region and mostly spent catalyst solids are found in the wall region. Gross understanding on gas-solids riser flow can be conveniently obtained from a cross-section averaged one-dimensional modeling approach, which is probably only valid for the core region. The success of such an approach, however, has to rely on the appropriate modeling of controlling mechanisms of riser flows. Our recent studies show that commonly-employed Richardson-Zaki equation overestimates the hydrodynamic forces in the dense phase and acceleration regimes; there is also a non-negligible effect of solids collision on solids acceleration, and the wall effect should be taken into account in terms of wall boundary and back flow mixing. In this paper we propose a new mechanistic modeling to describe the hydrodynamics of upward flow of solids in a gas-solids riser, with new formula of hydrodynamic phase interactions. The modeling results are validated against published measurements of pressure and solids volume fraction in a wide range of particle property, gas velocity and solid mass flux. Parametric effects of operation conditions such as transport gas velocity and solid mass flux on hydrodynamic characteristics of riser flows are predicted.     

TWO-DIMENSIONAL TRANSIENT NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF SOLIDS AND GAS FLOW IN THE RISER SECTION OF A CIRCULATING FLUIDIZED BED

A computational fluid dynamics software (CFX) was modified for gas/particle flow systems and used to predict the flow parameters in the riser section of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB). Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) particles and air were used as the solids and gas phases, respectively. Two-dimensional, transient, isothermal flows were simulated for the continuous phase (air) and the dispersed phase (solid particles). Conservation equations of mass and momentum for each phase were solved using the finite volume numerical technique. Two-dimensional gas and particle flow profiles were obtained for the velocity, volume fraction, and pressure drop for each phase. Calculations showed that the inlet and exit conditions play a significant role in the overall mixing of the gas and particulate phases and in the establishment of the flow regime. The flow behavior was analyzed based on the different frequency of oscillations in the riser. Comparison of the calculated solids mass flux, solids density and pressure drop with the measured pilot-scale PSRI data (reported in this paper) showed a good agreement.     

Two-dimensional transient numerical simulation of solids and gas flow in the riser section of a circulating fluidized bed

A computational fluid dynamics software (CFX) was modified for gas/particle flow systems and used to predict the flow parameters in the riser section of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB). Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) particles and air were used as the solids and gas phases, respectively. Two-dimensional, transient, isothermal flows were simulated for the continuous phase (air) and the dispersed phase (solid particles). Conservation equations of mass and momentum for each phase were solved using the finite volume numerical technique. Two-dimensional gas and particle flow profiles were obtained for the velocity, volume fraction, and pressure drop for each phase. Calculations showed that the inlet and exit conditions play a significant role in the overall mixing of the gas and particulate phases and in the establishment of the flow regime. The flow behavior was analyzed based on the different frequency of oscillations in the riser. Comparison of the calculated solids mass flux, solids density and pressure drop with the measured pilot-scale PSRI data (reported in this paper) showed a good agreement.     

提升管出口T型弯头压降特性的实验分析

在大型循环流化床装置上,以FCC催化剂颗粒为实验物料,针对提升管出口T型弯头用动态压力传感器测量了操作参数和结构尺寸变化对其压降的影响,系统地分析了T型弯头的压降特性。实验结果表明T型弯头的压降与颗粒浓度呈线性关系,与入口速度（提升表观气速）呈二次方关系;T型弯头出口管截面积的减小使得压降显著增大;T型弯头盲管高度的增加可使T型弯头的压降降低,但是当盲管高度增加到一定值时,压降减小不明显。盲管高度对压降的影响是由于盲管高度的增加改变了提升管上部压力的分布,使T型弯头入口压力减小,导致T型弯头的压降降低;同时盲管高度的增加也使提升管出口区域的负压约束区长度增加。盲管所形成的负压约束区构成了对提升管出口的约束作用,T型弯头的盲管高度越大负压约束区越长,约束作用越强。     

A new correlation for predicting solids concentration in the fully developed zone of circulating fluidized bed risers

The present work focuses on developing a new comprehensive correlation for better prediction of the solids concentration in the fully developed region of co-current upward gas-solid flow in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) risers. Systematic experiments were carried out in two risers (15.1 m and 10.5 m high with the same 0.1 m i.d.) with FCC and sand particles. The results obtained from about 200 sets of operating conditions show that the average solids concentration in the fully developed region is more than just a function of the corresponding terminal solids concentration, as most previous correlations are based on. Operating conditions, particle properties and riser diameters also have significant effects on the solids concentrations in the fully developed region of CFB risers. Based on our experimental data and those reported in the open literature from CFB risers up to 0.4 m in diameter and 27 m in height with superficial gas velocities and solids circulation rates up to 11.5 m/s and 685 kg/m²·s, a new empirical correlation for predicting the average solids concentrations in the fully developed region of CFB risers is proposed. The correlation works well for a wide range of operating conditions, particle properties and riser diameters.     

Fundamental studies on the hydrodynamics and mixing of gas and solid in a downer reactor

The effect of flow direction on hydrodynamics and mixing in the upflow and downflowcirculating fluidized beds is discussed in details.Similar profiles of gas and solids velocities andsolids concentration are found in both risers and downers.When the flow is in the direction ofgravity(downer),the radial profiles of gas and particle velocity are more uniform than that inthe riser,the solids mixing is very small and the flow pattern approaches plug flow,while theflow is against gravity(riser),the solids backmixing significantly increase and the flow pattern isfar from plug flow.Among many of factors the flow direction has the largest influence onhydrodynamics and axial mixing of gas and solids.     

提升管内气固流动特性的离散元模拟

采用离散单元法模型对二维提升管内气固流动特性进行了数值模拟。利用标准k-ε模型模拟气相的湍流流动,考虑了颗粒间的van der Waals力和滚动摩擦的作用。通过对颗粒和气体流动行为的分析,得到了颗粒浓度、速度、温度及气体速度等的分布,研究了表观气速和颗粒循环速率对颗粒流动的影响。结果显示:颗粒在提升管内呈现边壁浓、中心稀的环核流动及上稀下浓的流动结构;气固两相都存在一定程度的返混现象;增加表观气速,使颗粒浓度降低、速度增大,颗粒分布更均匀;增加颗粒循环速率,使颗粒浓度增大,而颗粒速度对颗粒循环速率的变化不敏感,颗粒分布的不均匀性更强。模拟结果与文献中实验定性吻合。     

组合约束型提升管出口气固分布器的压降

在一套组合约束型提升管冷态实验装置上,通过实验研究了不同操作条件下提升管出口气固分布器的压降,并与常规气体分布器压降进行了对比。实验结果表明,在零床层及有床层的操作模式下,气固分布器压降均随提升管内表观气速和颗粒循环强度的增加而增大,在颗粒循环强度较低时,气固分布器压降曲线变化的斜率随着表观气速的增加而增大,在颗粒循环强度较高时,气固分布器压降曲线变化的斜率随着表观气速的增加而减小;随着开孔率及上部流化床层压降增加,气固分布器压降呈降低趋势,当流化床层压降达到一定程度后,分布器各孔方可实现有效布气,此后气固分布器压降趋于近似不变;在相同表观气速及开孔率下,气固分布器压降大于常规气体分布器压降。     

Experimental study on solids concentration distribution in a two-dimensional circulating fluidized bed

The axial and lateral solids holdup profiles in a 2-D circulating fluidized bed (CFB) were measured with an optical fibre probe under a wide range of operating conditions. The CFB is 7.6 m in height and has a 19×114 mm² narrow cross-section riser. The results showed that the operating conditions influence the flow structure significantly and control the flow in the same manner as that in cylindrical risers. The solids had lower concentrations at the riser centre than the near wall region. Compared with data from cylindrical columns, the axial and lateral profiles of solids holdup in 2-D riser had a similar pattern in shape, but were more uniform. The geometry of the riser was found to be an important factor that affects the solids distribution due to differences in terms of the perimeter per unit cross-sectional area and the wall-to-centre distance. To some extent, the two-dimensional and three-dimensional risers are more comparable under fast fluidization conditions. Generally, the solids distributions along the axial and the lateral directions in 2-D riser were dissimilar to those in cylindrical risers, while the main differences have been discussed in the current study.     

Improvement of the Uniformity of Radial Solids Concentration Profiles in Circulating Fluidized‐Bed Risers

In order to enhance the uniformity of the radial solids distribution and thereby the performance of industrial circulating fluidized‐bed (CFB) risers, an approach by using the air jet from the riser circumference is proposed. The Eulerian‐Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with the kinetic theory of granular flow is adopted to simulate the gas‐solids two‐phase flow in a CFB riser with fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) particles. The numerical results indicate that by employing the circumferential air jet approach under appropriate jet velocities, the maximum solids concentration in the near‐wall region can be greatly reduced, the entrance region can be shortened, and the uniformity of the flow structure can be significantly improved.     

Identification and characteristics of different flow regimes in a circulating fluidized bed

A series of experiments was conducted in a 0.3-m diameter circulating fluidized bed (CFB) cold model to evaluate the operating flow regimes and their transitions. A single unambiguous experimental method was developed to identify the transitions between CFB operating regimes. Experiments were conducted at riser gas velocities ranging from dense phase turbulent, through fast fluidization (S-shape riser pressure profile), and up to dilute-phase flow regimes. A transient method was applied to a low density, Geldart Type B, cork bed material. Two distinct transition velocities were found by analyzing the time required to empty out all solids from the riser of the CFB after cutting off solids flow. The lowest transition velocity marked the transition between the dense-phase turbulent and the fast fluidization flow regimes, while a higher or second transition represented the transition between the fast fluidization and the dilute-phase flow regimes. Based on the experimental results, the axial pressures and its fluctuations along the riser exhibited markedly distinct profiles in each of the three different operating flow regime regions as defined by these two transport velocities.