The Effect of Solids Inventory and Other Factors on the Axial Solids Holdup Profiles in a Twin‐Riser System

The axial profiles of cross‐sectional average solids holdup profiles were studied in two 10 m long, 76 mm i. d. and 203 mm i. d. risers with the solids circulation rate up to 550 kg/m²s, superficial gas velocities up to 10.0 m/s, and solids inventory up to 410 kg in the 320 mm i. d. storage tank. The shape of the axial profiles of the cross‐sectional average solids holdup changes with solids fluxes. Under high‐flux conditions, the shapes of the profiles are quite different from those under low‐flux conditions. It is clear that solids holdup increases with the increase of solids fluxes. While the superficial gas velocities have no obvious influence on the shape of the axial profiles of the cross‐sectional average solids holdup under given solids flux for both risers, solids holdup decreases with the increase of superficial gas velocity under all solids inventories. The solids inventory and riser diameter have little influence on the shape of the profile, but the solids holdup is higher with larger bed diameter and/or larger solids inventory. Meanwhile, the solids inventory and riser diameter have important influence on the maximum value of operating solids fluxes of the system. The maximum of solids fluxes increases with the increase of solids inventory, and decreases with the increase of riser diameter.     

循环型高通量输送床的建立与控制

密相输送床气化和双流化床气化是基于循环型流化床反应器发展起来的两种新型煤和生物质气化技术,根据这两种技术对流动的要求,提出了在循环流化床的下行床底部耦合一段移动床,为输送床内的流动提供足够高的驱动压力而提高颗粒循环量的技术思想。在根据该思想而建立的直径90 mm的输送床实验装置上的实验研究表明,利用所提出的床型构造可在表观气速9.6 m•s^-1下实现400 kg•m^-2•s^-1的颗粒循环量。输送床的一次风速和移动床松动风速是影响颗粒循环量和输送床内颗粒浓度的主要因素,但循环量随输送床一次风速的增大而增加的走势弱于普通循环流化床。移动床松动风速在小于颗粒最小流化速度的范围内轻微变动即可显著改变颗粒循环量和输送床内颗粒浓度。在保持输送床总气速不变的前提下,通过二次风可在40%的比例范围内调节颗粒循环量,且调节作用随二次风位置的增高而减弱。     

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.     

Predicting axial pressure profile of a CFB

The numerical simulation of CFBs is an important tool in the prediction of its flow behavior. Predicting the axial pressure profile is one of the major difficulties in modeling a CFB. A model using a Particle Based Approach (PBA) is developed to accurately predict the axial pressure profile in CFBs. The simulation model accounts for the axial and radial distribution of voidage and velocity of the gas and solid phases, and for the solids volume fraction and particle size distribution of the solid phase. The model results are compared with and validated against atmospheric cold CFB experimental literature data. Ranges of experimental data used in comparisons are as follows: bed diameter from 0.05 to 0.305 m, bed height between 5 and 15.45 m, mean particle diameter from 76 to 812 μm, particle density from 189 to 2600 kg/m³, solid circulation fluxes from 10.03 to 489 kg/m² s and gas superficial velocities from 2.71 to 10.68 m/s. The computational results agreed reasonably well with the experimental data. Moreover, both experimental data and model predictions show that the pressure drop profile is affected by the solid circulation flux and superficial velocity values in the riser. The pressure drop increases along the acceleration region as solid circulation flux increases and superficial velocity decreases.     

Lateral flux and velocity of FCC particles in a CFB riser

The radial profiles of the lateral solids mass flux and the lateral solids velocity were determined for FCC particles in a 7 m tall circulating fluidtzed bed riser 0.14 m in diameter by applying a lateral flux probe and electrical capacitance tomography. The external solids mass flux was varied between 148 and 302 kg/(m².s), while the superficial gas velocity was varied between 3.7 and 4.7 m/s. Under these conditions, a dense bottom region and an upper dilute region coexisted in the riser. Lateral fluxes in the dense bottom region reached 100 kg/(m².s) at the wall, but fell to 14 kg/(m².s) at the wall in the upper dilute region. At both axial locations, a net deposition of solids from the core to the annulus occurred, indicating that fully developed flow was never established under these conditions. The lateral fluxes in the bottom region were significantly larger than those found in previous studies. It was further concluded that considering the lateral solids flux to be only a function of solids concentration is an over‐simplification.     

Hydrodynamic modeling of a circulating fluidized bed

Hydrodynamics plays a crucial role in defining the performance of circulating fluidized beds (CFB). The numerical simulation of CFBs is very important in the prediction of its flow behavior. From this point of view, in the present study a dynamic two dimensional model is developed considering the hydrodynamic behavior of CFB. In the modeling, the CFB riser is analyzed in two regions: The bottom zone in turbulent fluidization regime is modeled in detail as two-phase flow which is subdivided into a solid-free bubble phase and a solid-laden emulsion phase. In the upper zone core-annulus solids flow structure is established. Simulation model takes into account the axial and radial distribution of voidage, velocity and pressure drop for gas and solid phase, and solids volume fraction and particle size distribution for solid phase. The model results are compared with and validated against atmospheric cold bed CFB units' experimental data given in the literature for axial and radial distribution of void fraction, solids volume fraction and particle velocity, total pressure drop along the bed height and radial solids flux. Ranges of experimental data used in comparisons are as follows: bed diameter from 0.05-0.418 m, bed height from 5-18 m, mean particle diameter from 67-520 μm, particle density from 1398 to 2620 kg/m³, mass fluxes from 21.3 to 300 kg/m²s and gas superficial velocities from 2.52-9.1 m/s.As a result of sensitivity analysis, the variation in mean particle diameter and superficial velocity, does affect the pressure especially in the core region and it does not affect considerably the pressure in the annulus region. Radial pressure profile is getting flatter in the core region as the mean particle diameter increases. Similar results can be obtained for lower superficial velocities. It has also been found that the contribution to the total pressure drop by gas and solids friction components is negligibly small when compared to the acceleration and solids hydrodynamic head components. At the bottom of the riser, in the core region the acceleration component of the pressure drop in total pressure drop changes from 0.65% to 0.28% from the riser center to the core-annulus interface, respectively; within the annulus region the acceleration component in total pressure drop changes from 0.22% to 0.11% radially from the core-annulus interface to the riser wall. On the other hand, the acceleration component weakens as it moves upwards in the riser decreasing to 1% in both regions at the top of the riser which is an important indicator of the fact that hydrodynamic head of solids is the most important factor in the total pressure drop.     

Position and velocity of a large particle in a gas/solid riser using the radioactive particle tracking technique

The flow behavior of the solids phase in the fully developed region of a laboratory-scale circulating fluidized bed riser was studied using an assembly of sixteen NaI detectors to determine the position of a 500 μm radioactive particle, 100 times/s. The particle location was inferred from the number of γ-rays recorded by the assembly. The knowledge of the instantaneous positions enabled the determination of the instantaneous and mean velocity fields. Tests were conducted in a 0.082 m diameter, 7 m tall riser using 150 μm silica sand particles. Data were obtained at a gas superficial velocity of 4 m/s and solids mass fluxes from 23 to 75 kg/m²·s. Radial profiles of axial particle velocity showed that the solids velocity decreased with increasing solids circulation rates. Correspondingly, turbulent particle velocities and solids dispersion coefficient in the longitudinal direction were found to decrease as the solids circulation rate increased. The cross-sectional area where, on average, solids downflow took place, increased with increasing solids circulation rate.     

Flow behaviors in the downer of a large-scale triple-bed combined circulating fluidized bed system with high solids mass fluxes

The flow behaviors in the downer of a large-scale triple-bed circulating fluidized bed (TBCFB) gasifier cold model, which is composed of a downer (Φ 0.1 m×6.5 m), a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB, 0.75×0.27×3.4 m³), a riser (Φ 0.1 m×16.6 m) and a gas-sealing bed (GSB, Φ 0.158 m×5 m), were investigated. Sand particles with a density of 2600 kg/m³ and an average particle size of 128 μm were used as bed materials. Solids mass fluxes were in the range 113–524 kg/m² s. Average solids holdup in the developed region of the downer increased with increasing solids mass flux. The gas seal between the riser and the downer had a large effect on the solids holdup distribution in the downer. Compared with the solids holdup in the riser, a relatively low solids holdup was formed in the downer even at high solids loadings. A pressure balance model was set up to predict the solids mass flux for this TBCFB system. It was found that the static bed height in the GSB had a great effect on the solids mass flux. The possibilities of achieving a high density solids holdup in a downer were discussed.     

Investigation of the Dynamics of a High‐Flux CFB Riser Using Chaos Analysis of Pressure Fluctuations

The dynamics of a high‐flux circulating fluidized bed riser (10 m high with i.d. of 76.2 mm) were studied using a chaos analysis technique with differential pressure signals sampled at 400 Hz. Spent FCC particles (d_p = 67 μm) were used as the solid phase. The solids flux ranged between 50–400 kg/m² s while the gas velocity was varied between 4.0–10.0 m/s. Using the measured signals, the complexity and predictability of the gas‐solids flow were characterized using correlation dimension and Kolmogorov entropy. The axial profiles of the dimension and entropy revealed a more complex and less predictable gas‐solids flow in the transition section of the riser. Both dimension and entropy decreased with increasing solids holdup and solids flux. Moreover, the correlation dimension increased exponentially with decreasing average absolute deviation (AAD), at a power of 0.3. On the other hand, the entropy was observed to decrease exponentially with increasing average cycle time (ACT) of the pressure fluctuations at a characteristic power ranging between 0.95 and 1.10. Also, a comparison was made between low‐ and high‐flux conditions based on the dynamic properties of the riser.     

提升管与气-固环流床层耦合反应器颗粒相循环比的模型及预测

引言Geldart A类颗粒气-固环流技术是一种利用气-液环流原理,并结合气-固聚式流化体系特点而开发的一种新型流态化技术[1],具有气固接触效率高、传质传热性能好等优点,被广泛用于石油炼制领域中的催化裂化汽提器、提升管出口粗旋快分的预汽提器、外取热器、石油焦燃烧器和降烯烃反应器等装备中[2]。     

The influence of particle size and density on the radial gas mixing in the dilute region of the circulating fluidized bed

A cold model of a CFB, having a 0.120m ID, 5.75m high riser, was operated at a superficial gas velocity of 6m/s and at average solids mass fluxes varying in the range between 16 and 55kg/sm². A stream of carbon dioxide was injected continuously at a fixed position along the riser axis and used as tracer gas. Three solids, belonging to groups A and B of Geldart's classification, were selected in order to investigate separately, the effect of particle size and density on the radial mixing of the gas phase. The intensity of radial gas dispersion reduced when larger or heavier particles were used. The differences in the values of radial dispersion coefficient and Peclet number were explained, taking into account the role of the particle size with respect to the scale of gas turbulence.     

Hydrodynamics and reactor performance evaluation of a high flux gas‐solids circulating fluidized bed downer: Experimental study

Reactor performance of a high flux circulating fluidized bed (CFB) downer is studied under superficial gas velocities of 3–7 m/s with solids circulation rate up to 300 kg/m²s using ozone decomposition reaction. Results show that the reactant conversion in the downer is closely related to the hydrodynamics, with solids holdup being the most influential parameter on ozone decomposition. High degree of conversion is achieved at the downer entrance region due to strong gas‐solids interaction as well as higher solids holdup and reactant concentration. Ozone conversion increases with the increase of solids circulation rate and/or the decrease of superficial gas velocity. Overall conversion in the CFB downer is less than but very close to that in an ideal plug flow reactor indicating a good reactor performance in the downer because of the nearly “ideal” hydrodynamics in downer reactors. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3412–3423, 2014     

Influence of ring-type internals on axial pressure distribution in circulating fluidized bed

In order to improve non-uniform radial and axial flow structure of a circulating fluidized bed, the influence of ring-type internals on the axial pressure distribution and gas—solids flow structure in a riser of 7.6 cm in diameter and 3 m in height was investigated experimentally. Four different opening areas, 70%, 80%, 90% and 95%, were used and the superficial gas velocity and solids circulation rate were in the ranges of 5 to 10 m/s and 20 to 233 kg/m²·s, respectively. With the presence of internals, the axial pressure gradient distribution shows the formation of a zigzag type profile instead of the regular exponential or S-shape profile and the bottom acceleration region is shortened. The opening ratio of the rings plays an important role in affecting the flow structure. The optimal opening ratio is tightly related to the operating conditions. In the circulation fluidized bed used in this study, 90% open area was found to be most suitable for obtaining a more uniform gas—solids flow structure.     

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。     

A model for the circulating fluidized bed

A model for the hydrodynamics of circulating fluidized beds is proposed. The model combines existing entrainment and bed expansion correlations with a system pressure balance. Starting from a knowledge of the powder size distribution, particle density, gas velocity, equipment geometry and solids inventory, the variation of voidage within the riser is predicted, together with distribution of solids between the riser and supply hopper (or ‘slow’ bed). Qualitative trends with gas velocity and solid circulation flux show good agreement with experiment, but better quantitative agreement must await the development of an improved correlation for entrainment.     

循环流化床提升管内压力脉动特性

在大型循环流化床装置上,以200mm×12500mm提升管为对象,使用FCC催化剂颗粒粉料,实验测量了提升管内气固两相流的动态压力,分析了提升管内气固两相流的压力脉动特性和产生的机理。实验结果表明,提升管内气固两相流的压力脉动由两种不同成分的脉动叠加构成,一种为低频高幅值脉动,是由提升管的不稳定进料引起的;另一种为高频低幅值脉动,是颗粒簇运动、气固相互作用、气体速度脉动等多种因素耦合作用的结果。压力脉动的标准偏差分析和功率谱分析表明,压力脉动的强度随颗粒质量流率的增加而增大,但沿提升管轴向有一定程度衰减。压力脉动的量纲1和功率谱分析表明,低频高幅值的脉动在提升管轴向具有一定的相似性。     

Experimental and computational study of T- and L-outlet effects in dilute riser flow

Riser outlet effects induced by an L-outlet and by abrupt T-outlets with different extension heights and outlet surface areas are studied experimentally and computationally.Experiments are carried out in a cold flow riser. The cold flow riser has a diameter of 0.1 m and a height of 8.765 m and is operated in the dilute flow regime with a superficial gas velocity of 2.48–7.43 m/s and a solids flux of 3.0 kg/m²/s. Particle velocities are measured using Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA).Vortex formation in the extension part of the riser is observed. The vortex circulates the solids along the wall opposite to the outlet, thus inducing a solids reflux. The flow pattern upstream the outlet is, however, hardly affected in the small diameter riser. The vortex position and length are affected by the extension height, but hardly by the outlet surface area and the superficial gas velocity. The use of an L-outlet significantly reduces the vortex formation.The experimental measurements are used to validate a 3D Eulerian–Eulerian and Kinetic Theory of Granular Flow (KTGF) based gas–solid flow model. In general, the calculated trends are qualitatively in agreement with the experimentally observed phenomena. The exact shape of the vortex is not always accurately predicted.     

The residence time distribution and mixing of the gas phase in the riser of a circulating fluidized bed

CFBs are increasingly used for both gas-catalytic and gas-solid reactions. The conversion is a function of the gas hydrodynamics, subject of the present research.Available literature on the gas mixing in the riser of a CFB shows contradictory results: some investigators neglected back-mixing of gas, whereas others report a considerable amount of back-mixing in CFB risers. The present paper reports experimental findings obtained in a 0.1 m I.D. riser, for a wide range of combined superficial gas velocity (U) and solid circulation flux (G). The gas flow mode (plug vs. mixed) is strongly affected by the operating conditions, however with a dominant mode within a specific (U, G)-range. Sand was used as bed material. The superficial gas velocity was varied from 5.5 to 8.3 m/s, the solids circulation flux was between 40 and 170 kg/m² s. A tracer pulse response technique was used with a pulse of propane injected at the bottom and detected at the riser exit. The cumulative response curves, F(t), define (i) an average residence time (t₅₀) obtained for F(t) = 0.5; and (ii) the slope of the curves (a steeper one corresponding with more pronounced plug flow) and expressed in terms of a span, σ. These parameters (t₅₀ and σ) define the gas flow mode. A quantitative comparison of experimental results with literature RTD-models is inconclusive although the occurrence of both mixed flow and plug flow is evident, and (U, G)-dependent. The experimental results are expressed in empirical design equations, and the comparison of predicted and experimental results is fair: low values of σ determine the plug flow regimes, whereas back-mixing is more pronounced at higher value of σ. Experiments with similar systems might favor plug flow or mixing as function of the combined (U, G)-values. The introduction of the RTD-function in reaction rate equations can improve the prediction of the gas-conversion in a riser-reactor.     

The measurement of instantaneous local heat transfer coefficients in a circulating fluidized bed

Instantaneous and time-averaged local bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficients were measured in a 9.3 m tall, 152 mm ID cold model circulating fluidized bed riser at three different heights for 171 μm Ottawa sand at a superficial gas velocity of 7 m/s, and for solids circulation fluxes up to about 70 kg/m².s. All data were obtained with an instantaneous heat transfer probe consisting of a thin platinum film deposited on a 1 cm² piece of glass protected by a thin plastic film. Instantaneous heat transfer coefficients in the riser showed sudden and dramatic peaks caused by strands or sheets of particles sweeping past the probe. Consistent with previous work, time-averaged coefficients varied nearly linearly with suspension density. The heat transfer coefficient decreased from the bottom to the middle of the column, and then increased near the top due to an increase in suspension density for the exit geometry employed.     

Solids flow characteristics in loop-seal of a circulating fluidized bed

The hydrodynamics of solids (FCC) recycle in a loop-seal (0.08 m) at the bottom of the downcomer (0.08 m-I.D.x4.0 m-high) in a circulating fluidized bed (0.1 m-I.D.x 5.3 m-high) have been determined. Solid flow rate through the loop-seal increases linearly with increasing aeration rate. At the same aeration rate, the maximum solid flow rate can be obtained at a loop-seal height-to-diameter ratio of 2.5. The effects of solid inventory, solid circulation rate and gas velocity on pressure balance around the CFB have been determined. At a given gas velocity and solid circulation rate, pressure drops across the downcomer and loop-seal increase linearly with increasing solids inventory in the bed. At a constant solid inventory, pressure drops across the riser and the downcomer increase with increasing solid circulation rate but decrease with increasing gas velocity in the riser. The obtained solid flow rate has been correlated with pressure drop across the loop-seal.