Performance of a three-phase fluidized bed as a reactive distillation device

A new reactive distillation device, the multistage gas/liquid/solid three-phase fluidized bed, has been developed. The flow regimes of the multistage three-phase fluidized bed have been studied and the regimes can be divided into the liquid leakage regime, the dispersed bubble regime, and the coalesced bubble regime. Liquid velocity has a much smaller effect on phase holdups in this device than in conventional three-phase fluidized beds. The three phase fluidized bed is used as a reactive distillation device for the hydrolysis of methyl acetate. Much higher reaction conversion than the equilibrium value and high catalyst-contacting efficiency are obtained. Different methods of feeding the water into the reactive distillation section are studied.     

Bubble drift velocity from the bed collapse technique in three-phase fluidized beds

Transient behavior of a bed collapsing after cut-off of gas supply into a three-phase fluidized bed was determined in a 0.21 m-diameter half-tube acrylic column having a test section 1.8 m high. The transient behavior of the bed collapse after cut-off of the gas supply to the beds was monitored by a video camera (30 frames/s). A theory was developed to account for the dynamic behavior of the bed collapse after the gas supply shut-off to three-phase fluidized beds. The bubble drift velocity was theoretically calculated by gas and liquid phase holdups at steady state condition. At a liquid velocity of 0.103 m/s and gas velocity of 0–0.023 m/s, bubble size was uniform in the dispersed bubble flow regime. However, as the gas velocity increased above 0.023 m/s, the discrete or coalesced bubble flow regime could be observed. The agreement between the predicted and experimental values is acceptable in the dispersed bubble flow regime, but the agreement becomes poorer with increasing gas velocity.     

Hydrodynamics of a high pressure three‐phase fluidized bed subject to foaming

The effects of pressure and surfactants on the phase holdups and flow regime transition velocities of gas–liquid–solid fluidized beds were investigated. The effect of pressure on the bed phase holdups is significant and more pronounced at larger gas flow rates where pressure has a greater effect on the equilibrium bubble size. The addition of a surfactant leads to an increase in the gas holdup and a lowering of the solids and liquid holdups. The presence of a surfactant with a liquid flow results in shearing of the bubbles across the gas–liquid distributor, limiting the effect of pressure. Finally, for all conditions, gas holdups in the freeboard region were greater than in the bed.     

气液固三相循环流态化

<正>由于三相流化床反应器在石油化工、湿法冶金、环境工程和煤的液化等工业领域得到越来越广泛的应用,近年来对传统的三相流化床进行了大量的基础研究并取得了很大进展。以往的研究大部分是针对低液速(u_l相似文献   

采用压力脉动信号分析法对三相流化床流型划分的研究

本文采用床层压力脉动信号的计算机在线分析方法进行了并流三相流化床流型转变过程的研究.为了查明操作条件(气速、液速)和颗粒物性(密度、粒径)对转变过程的影响,进行了一系列的实验工作.最后得到在空气-水-颗粒的三相流化体系内,从气泡合并区向气泡分散区转变的判别式:在R_(eg)p_(?)/p_l·(D_T/d_p)~(-1.589)·Fr_g~(-0.1)≥1.01×10~5条件下如果Re_(lc)(U_(mf)~(?)/U_(mf)~())~(0.388)·Re_U_(mf)~(?)~(-0.461)·((p_(?)-p_l)/p_l)~(-0.478)≥13.4则流化床处于分散区操作,反之,则处于合并区操作状态.     

RADIAL DISPERSION AND BUBBLE CHARACTERISTICS IN THREE-PHASE FLUIDIZED BEDS

The effects of gas and liquid velocities, liquid viscosity and particle size on the radial dispersion coefficient of liquid phase (D_r) and the bubble properties in three-phase fluidized beds have been determined. A new flow regime map based on the drift flux theory in three-phase fluidized beds has been proposed.

In three-phase fluidized beds, D, increases with increasing gas velocity in the bubble coalescing and in the slug flow regimes, but it decreases in the bubble disintegrating regime. The coefficient exhibits a maximum value in the bed of small particles with increasing liquid velocity at lower gas velocities. However, it increases with increasing liquid velocity at higher gas velocities. In two and three-phase fluidized beds of larger particles (6,8 mm), D_r exhibits a maximum value with an increase in liquid viscosity at lower gas velocities, but it increases at higher gas velocities. The mean bubble chord length and its rising velocity increase with increasing gas velocity and liquid viscosity. However, the bubble chord length decreases with an increase in liquid velocity and it exhibits a maximum value with increasing particle size in the bed. The radial dispersion coefficients in the bubble coalescing and disintegrating regimes of three-phase fluidized beds in terms of the Peclet number in the present and previous studies have been well represented by the correlations based on the concept of isotropic turbulence theory.     

Use of ultrasound for phase holdup measurements in multiphase systems

This study evaluates ultrasound as a non‐invasive technique for determining the cross‐sectional holdups of multiphase systems. Experiments are performed in a column of 292 mm inner diameter with air, water and uniform glass beads of 1.3 mm diameter as the particles. In a bubble column, the signal intensity decayed exponentially with increasing gas holdup. In a liquid–solid fluidized bed, the wave time‐of‐flight decreased linearly when the solids holdup increased from 25% to 60% (fixed bed), while the signal intensity increased. Signal attenuation limits the use of this method for three‐phase fluidized beds. When large particles (mm range) are used, it is difficult to operate at a wavelength that permits transmission through both dispersed phases. For three‐phase systems, slurry bubble columns with low dispersed phases holdups and smaller particles present a less attenuative media and are better suited to this technique.     

气液固三相流化床相含率四区模型的研究

本文在实验的基础上,推导并验证了三相流化床相含率的四区模型.结果表明,该模型能较好地拟合相含率的径向变化.     

Hydrodynamic behaviour of a draft tube gas-liquid-solid spouted bed

Experiments were conducted using various types of solid particles to investigate the hydrodynamic properties of a gas-liquid-solid spouted bed with a draft tube. The hydrodynamic properties under study include flow modes, pressure profile and pressure drop, bubble penetration depth, overall gas holdup, apparent liquid circulation rate and bubble size distribution. Three flow modes were classified: a packed bed mode, a fluidized bed mode and a circulated bed mode. It was found that the friction factor accounting for the friction loss in the bed varies linearly on a logarithmic scale with the Reynolds number defined based on the apparent liquid circulation rate. The bubble penetration depth in the annular region, overall gas holdup and apparent liquid circulation rate increase with an increase in gas or liquid velocity. At high gas flow conditions an optimal solids loading exists which yields a maximum apparent liquid circulation rate. A model was proposed to describe the liquid circulation behaviour in the draft tube three-phas spouted bed. The average bubble size in the draft tube region is higher than that in the annular region for both the dispersed bubble regime and the coalesced bubble regime in the draft tube region.     

Heat transfer and bubble dynamics in a three-phase inverse fluidized bed

In this study, surface-to-bed heat transfer experiments were performed to gain insight on heat transfer and hydrodynamics in a three-phase inverse fluidized bed. Air, tap water or 0.5 wt.% aqueous ethanol, and polypropylene were, respectively, the gas, liquid and solid phases. The solid loading was varied from 0 to 30 vol.%, and the gas and liquid superficial velocities from 2 to 50 mm/s and 0 to 21 mm/s, respectively. Visual observations were associated with measured phase holdups and instantaneous heat transfer coefficients. Larger gas velocities lead to an increase in bubble size due to the transition to the coalesced bubble flow regime. The greater turbulence induced by the larger bubbles increases the average heat transfer coefficient. On the other hand, adding ethanol reduces the heat transfer coefficient. Solid concentrations up to ∼13 vol.% increase the average heat transfer coefficient whereas higher solid concentrations tend to lower it. The distribution of instantaneous heat transfer coefficient peak height is wider at higher gas and liquid velocities while the addition of a surfactant narrows it. Gas holdups and average heat transfer coefficients are both compared with existing correlations, which are then adjusted for a better fit.     

Hydrodynamics of a gas-liquid-solid three phase circulating fluidized bed

The hydrodynamics of a gas-liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed was investigated. A new regime, the three phase circulating fluidization regime, was discovered for the first time. The characteristics of this regime were compared with that of the conventional fluidization regime and the transport regime. The particle circulation rate and the gas and solids holdups in circulating fluidization regime were studied.     

Clustering behaviour in gas–liquid–solid circulating fluidized beds with low solid holdups of resin particles

The flow in a gas–liquid–solid circulating fluidized bed is self‐organised and manifests itself with clustering of particles and bubbles. The clustering behaviour in the fluidized bed at low solid holdups of resin particles was experimentally investigated with a high‐speed image measurement and treatment technique of complementary metal oxide semiconductor to enhance the fundamental understanding on such a flow. Several new physical quantities were suggested to characterise such ordered flow structures. The main findings are as follows. The clusters of solid particles largely exist as doublets and triplets, the mixed groups of particles and bubbles mostly exist as one bubble carrying two to four particles. Increasing superficial liquid velocity, particle diameter or density weakens the aggregation degrees of both particle and mixed clusters in the riser and downer, except that the increase of superficial liquid velocity enhances the mixed clustering behaviour in the riser. The climbing of the auxiliary liquid velocity or liquid phase viscosity intensifies the aggregation behaviour, except that the increase of liquid phase viscosity reduces the mixed clustering degree in the riser. The influences of superficial gas velocity and surface tension of liquid phase on the clustering behaviour seem to be a little complex and the trends are not simply increasing or decreasing. The life cycle of solid particle clusters in the GLS riser is not sensitive to the operation conditions, being around 0.07 s. The mixed clusters' life cycle is more sensitive to the conditions and physical properties of phases, changing from 0.02 to 0.07 s.     

Flow dynamics in perforated plate liquid extraction columns

A linearized unsteady state flow model is developed for two counter-currently flowing liquids in an un-agitated perforated plate liquid–liquid column contactor. The model is based on the simultaneous solution of dynamic conservation equations and linearized hydrodynamic constitutive equations relating pressure drops and dispersed phase holdups to flow rates. Analytical expressions are obtained for the dynamic responses of inter-stage continuous and dispersed phase flow rates, inter-stage holdups, and level of the top interface to changes in the light liquid and heavy liquid inflow rates to the column. The system's dynamic behavior is vividly demonstrated through a set of typical frequency and transient response computations. Owing to the interaction between the dynamics associated with the flow of the two liquids, the frequency responses of the flow rates and holdups of the two phases are characterized by resonance peaks and non-minimum phase behavior.     

低固含率气-液-固循环流化床流动特性

应用基于互补金属氧化物半导体(complementary metal oxide semiconductor,CMOS)传感器的高速图像采集和处理技术,实验研究了低固含率条件下,低密度大孔吸附树脂固体颗粒气-液-固三相循环流化床的流体力学行为,分析了操作条件、液相物性、颗粒性质等对床内的固体颗粒循环速率、相含率、气泡运动等特性的影响,得到了具有合理物理解释的实验数据和结果。     

MASS TRANSFER AND PHASE HOLDUP CHARACTERISTICS IN THREE-PHASE FLUIDIZED BEDS

The effects of liquid surface tension (42.6 ∼ 72,4 mN/m) and viscosity (1 ∼214mPa • sⁿ), liquid (0.01 ∼0.12m/s) and gas (0.01 ∼0.20m/s) velocities and particle sizes (1 — 8 mm) on phase holdup and mass transfer coefficient ( k_La) have been determined in a 0.142 m-I.D. × 2.0 m-high Plexiglas column. The gas phase holdup increases with liquid velocity, and the rate of increase in gas phase holdup sharply increases with gas velocity in the bed of surfactant solutions. In the beds of 1.0 and 1.7 mm glass beads, the bed contraction occurs whereas in the beds of 2.3 mm glass beads the bed contraction does not occur with an aqueous soltuion of ethanol (σ = 50.4 mN/m). The value of k_La increases with decreasing surface tension (σ ) but it decreases exponentially with increasing liquid viscosity in continuous bubble columns and three-phase fluidized beds. In three-phase fluidized beds with surfactant solutions, k_La increases with gas and liquid velocities and particle size. In three-phase fluidized beds of viscous or surfactant soltuions, k_L,a can be estimated in terms of the energy dissipation rate based on the isotropic turbulence theory and a flow regime map is proposed based on the drift flux theory.     

Effects of sparger height and orifice orientation on solids dispersion in a slurry bubble column

The effects of gas distributor height and the orientation of its orifices are investigated on solids dispersion and gas holdup profiles in a three-phase slurry bubble column. The height of the distributor was varied to cover locations from near column bottom to above the settled solids bed height. The orifice orientations were changed from upward facing to downwards facing directions. The measurements were conducted in a Plexiglas column of 0.15 m ID and 2.5 m height. The gas phase was oil-free compressed air while tap water was used as liquid phase. Glass beads with an average particle diameter of 35 μm and density of 2450 kg/m³ constituted the solid phase. The settled bed height was about 0.4 m which provided an average slurry concentration of about 15% (v/v) when all solids were dispersed. Both axial and column average phase holdups were measured. Effects of sparger location, gas jets formation and liquid circulation patterns on gas holdups and solids dispersion are analyzed. Empirical correlations are developed to relate sparger location to solids dispersion as a function of gas velocity. Optimum sparger height and orifice orientation is proposed based on the measurement of this study.     

Phase inversion and mass transfer during liquid–liquid dispersed flow through mini-channel

The present study aims to identify means of process intensification during liquid–liquid flow through a mini-channel. During liquid–liquid flow, depending on the flow conditions either the organic or the aqueous phase can be dispersed and with increase in flow velocity the dispersed phase can spontaneously invert to form the continuous phase or vice-versa. The present study aims to investigate the phenomena of phase inversion and its influence on mass transfer during toluene/acetic acid-water flow in a 1.98 mm glass mini-channel. It is observed that for organic phase as dispersed regime, higher mass transfer efficiency is achieved when the liquid–liquid mixture is in the phase inversion zone which marks the transition from organic to aqueous phase dispersion. The mixture velocities as well as the inlet concentration of diffusing species influence mass transfer characteristics in this zone. The results have indicated some interesting observations which can be exploited for process intensification in monolith and micro-reactor.     

EFFECTS OF PARTICLE CHARACTERISTICS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF A FAST FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR

A heterogeneous model for the fast fluidized bed reactor which carries out a gas-solid non catalytic reaction is presented. The hydrodynamics of the fast fluidized bed is characterized by the model of Kwauk et al. (1985) which assumes the existence of two phases; a dense phase and a dilute pneumatic transport phase. For a given solid flowrate, the length of the reactor occupied by each phase depends on gas velocity, particle diameter and density and average voidage within the reactor. The gas-solid reaction is assumed to follow the shrinking core model. The solids are assumed to be completely backmixed in the dense phase and move in plug How in the dilute pneumatic transport phase. The gas phase is assumed to be in plug flow in both phases

For given gas and solid flowrates, the transition from the dense phase flow to the fast fluidized bed (containing two regions) as functions of particle size and density is determined using the model of Kwauk et al. (1985). The numerical solution of the governing mass balance equations show that for given solid and gas flowrates, (and average voidage) the gas phase conversion shows an unusual behavior with respect to particle diameter and density. Such behavior is resulted from the effects of particle diameter and density on the reactor volume occupied by each phase and the effect of particle diameter on the apparent reaction rate. The numerical results show that a fast fluidized bed gives the best conversion at large particle density and for the particle diameter which results the fast fluidized bed to be operated near the pure dense phase flow.     

气-液-固三相逆流化床动力学研究

在内径0.152 m,高2.5 m的气-液-固三相逆流化床中系统研究了动力学特性。获得了气体和液体速度及聚乙烯和聚丙烯颗粒密度对各相含率和最小液体流化速度的影响规律。研究发现随着气体速度的增加,液体最小流化速度降低;随着气体或液体速度增加,气体、液体和固体含率均增加。     

Distribution of bubble properties in a gas-liquid-solid fluidized bed

The behavior of bubbles in a cocurrent gas-liquid-solid fluidized bed was investigated in a column of 76.2 mm ID in this study. The particles used were glass beads of 3 and 6 mm and a binary mixture of these particles. A novel dual electrical resistivity probe system was developed and utilized to obtain bubble properties including bubble size and rise velocity. The distributions of the bubble properties in the gas-liquid-solid fluidized bed were evaluated for three flow regimes: the dispersed bubble flow regime; the coalesced bubble flow regime; and the slug flow regime.