Solids concentration in the fully developed region of circulating fluidized bed downers

To investigate solids concentration in the fully developed region of co-current downward gas-solid flow, actual solids concentrations were measured in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) downer with 9.3 m in height and 0.1 m in diameter using a fiber optical probe. The results obtained from this work and in the literature show that the average solids concentration in the fully developed region of the CFB downers is not only a function of the corresponding terminal solids concentration, but the operating conditions and particle properties also have influences on the average solids concentration in the fully developed region of the CFB downers. Particle diameter and density affect the solids concentrations differently under different operating conditions. Downer diameters almost have no influence on the solids concentrations. By taking into account the effects of operating conditions, particle properties and downer diameters, an empirical correlation to predict the solids concentrations in the fully developed region of CFB downers is proposed. The predictions of the correlation are in good agreement with the experimental data of this work and in the literature.     

Experimental study of high-density gas-solids flow in a new coupled circulating fluidized bed

Experiments were carried out in a specially designed high-density coupled circulating fluidized bed system. Fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) particles (ρ_p=1300 kg/m³, d_p=69 μm) were used. When the solids circulation flux is 400 kg/m²·s, the apparent solids holdup exceeds 20% near the top of the riser A, and the volumetric solids fraction (apparent solids holdup) is larger than 5.2% in the fully developed region of the downer. Hence, a high particle suspension density covers the entire coupled CFB system. Under the high-density conditions, the primary air rate had a small influence on the solids circulation flux, while the secondary air rate had an important effect on it. The results indicate a particle acceleration region and a fully developed region were identified along the downer from the pressure gradient profiles. In the fully developed region of the downer, the volumetric solids fraction increases with increasing solids circulation flux or decreasing superficial gas velocity U₁.     

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.     

网格尺寸对循环流化床内气固两相流动的影响

将基于能量最小多尺度方法(EMMS)的曳力模型耦合到双流体模型中,并针对循环流化床内的气固两流动进行了模拟研究。采用全滑移壁面边界条件处理颗粒相,考察了3种网格尺度对轴向空隙率和出口颗粒循环量等气固流动特性的影响。计算结果表明,应用EMMS曳力模型处理相间作用力,同时在采用全滑移壁面边界条件处理颗粒相时,双流体模型能够正确预测轴向空隙率分布。采用网格尺寸为2.325 mm×20 mm时,模拟结果和实测数据吻合较好,表明在循环流化床的数值模拟中选择恰当的网格尺度是极为重要的。     

Development of a novel fluidized bed ash cooler for circulating fluidized bed boilers: Experimental study and application

A novel bottom ash cooler (BAC) called compound fluidized bed ash cooler (CFBAC) was developed in this paper. The CFBAC combined the major technical features of spouted bed and bubbling bed, and could achieve the selective discharge on the bottom ash. Experiments about the gas-solid flow characteristics of the CFBAC were conducted in a visible cold test rig. The experimental results indicated that the separation chamber working in the spouted bed state had a good particle separation effect on the boiler bottom ash. A small quantity of fluidizing air was needed for the cooling chambers to work in the bubbling bed state. The particle separation effect could be controlled by the fluidizing air flow and physical dimensions such as the height of separation partition. The CFBAC had also been industrially applied in a 300 MW circulating fluidized bed unit. The application showed that the CFBAC had a well separation effect, an excellent adaptability on the bottom ash, a good cooling effect and a large ash discharge capacity over 30 t/h. Compared with the water-cooled BAC, the CFBAC had a better energy conservation performance.     

Solids mixing in a fluidized bed riser

The solids mixing in a riser with a height of 10 m and 0.186 m inner diameter was investigated by using pneumatic phosphor tracer technique. Considering the shielding effect of the bed material on the light emitted from the phosphor tracer particle, a modified method for the phosphor tracer measurement is proposed. And then the curves of particle residence time distribution were obtained. The experimental results show that the particle diffusion mechanism can be explained by the dispersions of dispersed particles and particle clusters in the axial direction, and as well the core-annulus nonuniform distribution of the solids fraction in the radial direction of the riser. Moreover, based on the experimental results, a two-dimensional dispersion model was established to predict the solids axial and radial diffusion. Furthermore, the effects of superficial gas velocity and solids circulating flux on the axial and radial Peclet number of the particles were discussed; two empirical correlation formulas about the axial and the radial Peclet numbers were given; the calculated values agree well with the experimental results.     

气液固循环流化床颗粒分布板实验研究

设计了用于气液固三相循环流化床换热器的固体颗粒分布板。采用功能强大的CCD图像采集分析系统,获得颗粒的分布和运动规律,考察了安装高度、运行参数等对分布板颗粒分布性能的影响。研究表明,分布板的安装高度、液体和气体流量、颗粒体积分数等对颗粒的速度和固含率分布有较大影响,得到了使固体颗粒在管束中分布效果较好的设计参数,以指导工程应用。     

Improvement of continuous solid circulation rate measurement in a cold flow circulating fluidized bed

A method is described to independently estimate the solids velocity and voidage in the moving bed portion of the NETL circulating fluidized bed (CFB). These quantities are used by a device that continuously measures the solids circulation rate. The device is based on the use of a rotating Spiral vane installed in the standpipe of a circulating fluid bed (CFB). Correlations were developed from transient experiments and steady state mass balance data to correct the solids velocity and solids fraction in the standpipe as a function of standpipe aeration rate. A set of statistically-designed experiments was used to establish the need for these corrections and to verify the accuracy of solid circulation rate measurements after correction. The differences between the original and corrected measurements were quantitatively compared.     

Effects of particle properties on flow structure in a 2-D circulating fluidized bed: Solids concentration distribution and flow development

The effects of particle properties (particle density, size and sphericity) on solids concentration in a 2-D riser were comprehensively investigated by measuring the axial and lateral solids concentration with an optical fiber probe. In this study, solids concentration of different types of particles shows that heavier particles have higher solids concentration laterally and axially than lighter particles; larger particles result in more compact solids distribution and such size effect is more evident at the riser bottom; more spherical particles lead to higher solids concentration. Various forces acting on particles and the change in the slip velocity between gas and particles were used to explain the effects of particle properties on solids distribution.     

Use of piezoelectric pressure transducers to determine local solids mass flux in the riser of a cold flow circulating fluidized bed

A method to determine local mass flux measurements within the riser of a circulating fluidized bed using the rate of impingement of particles on the surface of a piezoelectric pressure transducer is described. Statistically designed experiments with various solids circulation rates and riser gas velocities were conducted in the riser of a cold flow circulating fluidized bed to verify the accuracy of the method. Also, various techniques to relate the impingement rate to mass flux were employed. It is believed that this method delivers results in situations where more standard methods, such as isokinetic sampling, fail.     

外循环流化床换热器内最大颗粒循环流量的实验研究

利用CCD图像采集系统,对外循环管内颗粒流动状况进行考察,获得了外循环流化床最大颗粒循环流量,并考察了喷嘴直径、喷嘴安装位置以及液体粘度对外循环流化床内最大颗粒循环流量的影响。结果表明:喷嘴直径及其安装位置对外循环管内颗粒流量具有重要影响,并且对于提高最大颗粒循环流量都存在一个最适值,同时液体粘度对颗粒循环流量也具有较大的影响。     

Effect of ring‐type internals on solids distribution in a dual circulating fluidized bed system—cold flow model study

The redistribution of solids in a counter‐current circulating fluidized bed (CFB) by effect of ring‐type internals was investigated in a downscaled cold‐flow model. The system consists of two interconnected CFB reactors, in which the primary reactor operates like a common riser while the secondary reactor operates in counter‐current. The unit works without circulation rate control devices and the inventory splits inherently between the two reactors by pressure balance and depending on the fluidization velocities. Previous studies showed an increment in the total pressure drop in the secondary reactor as result of the internals installation. With the purpose of obtaining comparable inventory in the secondary reactor with and without rings, a device for adjustment of total inventory was designed and installed. Effects of the aperture ratio, number of rings, fluidization velocity, and particles circulation rate were studied. The results obtained approach a guideline for the detailed design of similar configurations. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3612–3623, 2013     

The control of bed height and solids circulation rate in the standpipe of a cold flow circulating fluidized bed

Circulating fluidized beds (CFBs) are used widely in the chemical industry. Knowing or estimating the bed height in the standpipe and the solids circulation rate are essential for effective control of the system. This paper incorporates a 2-region model to calculate the bed height in the standpipe with a Kalman filter algorithm to estimate the solids circulation rate (SCR). Simulations of both the standpipe bed height and SCR were compared with experimental data and shown to give good agreement.

In addition, a neural network method was applied to model the entire cold flow CFB system and measured data sets were used to train the neurons of the network. Finally, a linear controller was applied to control both the bed height and solids circulation rate to desired set points. Simulations were performed for both positive and negative step inputs for both variables and satisfactory control was demonstrated using this controller in combination with the neutral network and Kalman estimator.     

水平液固循环流化床颗粒分布状况的实验研究

为使水平液固循环流化床换热器更好地强化传热和防垢、除垢,管中颗粒的分布是关键,因此对卧式换热器前管箱进行改造,采用双进料口并在前管箱加入挡板,使得颗粒在管路中分布均匀。在实验中自行设计了一套水平多管液固循环流化床实验装置。采用CCD图像采集系统,获得了颗粒的运动及分布状况。研究表明:挡板的角度、颗粒密度等对颗粒分布性能都有较大影响。通过对实验结果的分析,得到了使固体颗粒在管束中分布效果较好的挡板角度以及较适宜颗粒分布的运行参数,以指导工程放大应用。     

Developments in the understanding of gas–solid contact efficiency in the circulating fluidized bed riser reactor:A review

In the last several decades, circulating fluidized bed reactors have been studied in many aspects including hydrodynamics, heat and mass transfer and gas–solid two phase contacting. However, despite the abundance of review papers on hydrodynamics, there is no summary paper on gas–solid contact efficiency to date, especially on high density circulating fluidized beds(CFBs). This paper gives an introduction to, and a review of the measurement of contact efficiency in circulating fluidized bed riser. Firstly, the popular testing method of contact efficiency including the method of heating transfer experiment and hot model reaction are discussed, then previous published papers are reviewed based on the discussed methods. Some key results of the experimental work are described and discussed. Gas–solid contact efficiency is affected by the operating conditions as well as the particle size distribution. The result of the contact efficiency shows that the CFB riser is far away from an ideal plug flow reactor due to the characteristics of hydrodynamics in the riser. Lacunae in the available literature have been delineated and recommendations have been made for further work.     

Solids mixing in a down-flow circulating fluidized bed of 0.418-m in diameter

The axial and lateral solids mixing in a down-flow circulating fluidized bed of 0.418-m diameter was investigated by a pneumatic injection phosphor tracer technique (PIPTT). The axial and lateral solids dispersion were determined by measuring the solids RTD at same axial but different lateral positions using point sources for tracer injection. A two-dimensional dispersion model described the measured RTD curves satisfactorily. The results were compared to those obtained in the small scale downers and the scale-up effect was investigated. The axial solids Peclet number Pe_a is around 110 and invariable with changing U_g, G_s and ?_s, while the lateral solids Peclet number Pe_r is linearly increasing with ?_s. And Pe_r is found to decrease with the square root of inner diameter (ID) in comparison with the results obtained in small ID downers. Correlation of Pe_r, Pe_r = (15 + 70.7 ?_s)D^− 0.5, is proposed.     

循环流化床多联供试验台调节特性的试验研究

在一个循环流化床与移动床结合的多联供冷态试验台上,循环床与移动床之间用改进的气动分配阀控制循环物料的分配,提升管直径为400mm、高度为6000mm,移动床直径为476mm、高度为1200mm。进行了单回路运行和双回路同时运行的试验,对气动分配阀返料特性和系统压力分布进行了研究。在气动分配阀的返料临界压力范围内,在两侧存在压差的情况下,气动分配阀可以实现对循环物料在回路1和回路2之间分配的调节控制。试验结果为循环流化床多联供热态试验台的设计提供了一些经验。     

六回路环形炉膛循环流化床试验研究

针对大型循环流化床锅炉存在的二次风穿透不佳、受热面布置困难等问题,提出了适用于600 MW等级及以上超(超)临界循环流化床锅炉的炉型——六回路环形炉膛循环流化床,并进行冷态试验研究,考查环形炉膛内气固流动特性和六回路间循环流率分布特性。结果表明:颗粒浓度沿环形炉膛高度的分布与矩形单炉膛相似,呈下浓上稀的指数型分布;随着流化速度的增大,炉膛下部密相区颗粒浓度减小,炉膛中上部和出口区域的颗粒浓度增大,各回路的循环流率均明显增大;随着静止料层高度的增大,整个炉膛高度的颗粒浓度都增大且高度越高处增幅越小;流化速度较低时循环流率不因静止料层高度的增大而变化,流化速度较高时循环流率随静止料层高度增大而稍有增大;六回路间循环流率的分布较均匀,设计工况下循环流率的相对偏差为4.5%;环形炉膛内环长边壁面悬吊屏对循环流率的大小和分布影响较小。     

含内构件的循环流化床的动态压力特性

针对含内构件的循环流化床,以石英砂为物料,使用动态压力传感器测量了含内构件的流化床中气固两相流的动态压力,分析了床内的瞬时压力特性. 结果表明,在进出口总压降中,文丘里压降最大,占主床压降的60%以上. 表观气速和固体颗粒循环流率共同影响循环流化床内的压力特性. 压力瞬时波动功率谱分析表明,压力波动对应一个主频,表观气速越小、颗粒循环流率越大时,压力波动越大,且循环流化床底部压力波动比上部大. 加入内构件能有效引导气流,使流动更均匀.