Fluidization of Group B particles with a rotating distributor

A novel rotating distributor fluidized bed is presented. The distributor is a rotating perforated plate, with 1% open-area ratio. This work evaluates the performance of this new design, considering pressure drop, Δp, and quality of fluidization. Bed fluidization was easily achieved with the proposed device, improving the solid mixing and the quality of fluidization.In order to examine the effect of the rotational speed of the distributor plate on the hydrodynamic behavior of the bed, minimum fluidization velocity, U_mf, and pressure fluctuations were analyzed. Experiments were conducted in the bubbling free regime in a 0.19 m i.d. fluidized bed, operating with Group B particles according to Geldart's classification. The pressure drop across the bed and the standard deviation of pressure fluctuations, σ_p, were used to find the minimum fluidization velocity, U_mf. A decrease in U_mf is observed when the rotational speed increases and a rise in the measured pressure drop was also found. Frequency analysis of pressure fluctuations shows that fluidization can be controlled by the adjustable rotational speed, at several excess gas velocities.Measurements with several initial static bed heights were taken, in order to analyze the influence of the initial bed mass inventory, over the effect of the distributor rotation on the bed hydrodynamics.     

Determination of minimum fluidization velocity by pressure fluctuation measurement

Using the standard deviation of pressure fluctuations to find the minimum fluidization velocity, U_mf, avoids the need to de-fluidize the bed so U_mf, can be found for operational bubbling fluidized beds without disrupting the process provided only that the superficial velocity may be altered and that the bed remains in the bubbling fluidized state. This investigation has concentrated on two distinct aspects of the pressure fluctuation method for U_mf determination: (1) the minimum number of pressure measurements required to obtain reliable estimates of standard deviation has been identified as about 10000 and (2) pressure fluctuation measurements in the plenum below the gas distributor are suitable for U_mf determination so the problems of pressure probe clogging and erosion by bed particles may be avoided.     

Effect of air distributor on the fluidization characteristics in conical gas fluidized beds

The effect of an air distributor on the fluidization characteristics of 1 mm glass beads has been determined in a conical gas fluidized bed (0.1 m-inlet diameter and 0.6 m in height) with an apex angle of 20‡. To determine the effect of distributor geometry, five different perforated distributors were employed (the opening fraction of 0.009–0.037, different hole size, and number). The differential bed pressure drop increases with increasing gas velocity, and it goes from zero to a maximum value with increasing or decreasing gas velocity. From the differential bed pressure drop profiles with the distributors having different opening fractions, demarcation velocities of the minimum and maximum velocities of the partial fluidization, full fluidization, partial defluidization and the full defluidization are determined. Also, bubble frequencies in the conical gas fluidized beds were measured by an optical probe. In the conical bed, the gas velocity at which the maximum bed pressure drop attained increases with increasing the opening fraction of distributors.     

Distributor effects near the bottom region of turbulent fluidized beds

The distributor plate effects on the hydrodynamic characteristics of turbulent fluidized beds are investigated by obtaining measurements of pressure and radial voidage profiles in a column diameter of 0.29 m with Group A particles using bubble bubble-cap or perforated plate distributors. Distributor pressure drop measurements between the two distributors are compared with the theoretical estimations while the influence of the mass inventory is studied. Comparison is established for the transition velocity from bubbling to turbulent regime, U_c, deduced from the pressure fluctuations in the bed using gauge pressure measurements. The effect of the distributor on the flow structure near the bottom region of the bed is studied using differential and gauge pressure transducers located at different axial positions along the bed. The radial voidage profile in the bed is also measured using optical fiber probes, which provide local measurements of the voidage at different heights above the distributor. The distributor plate has a significant effect on the bed hydrodynamics. Owing to the jetting caused by the perforated plate distributor, earlier onset of the transition to the turbulent fluidization flow regime was observed. Moreover, increased carry over for the perforated plate compared with the bubble caps has been confirmed. The results have highlighted the influence of the distributor plate on the fluidized bed hydrodynamics which has consequences in terms of comparing experimental and simulation results between different distributor plates.     

INFLUENCE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR PLATE AND OPERATING CONDITIONS ON THE FLUIDIZATION QUALITY OF A GAS FLUIDIZED BED

Experiments were carried out to examine the influence of both the type and the pressure drop of distributor plates on the fluidization quality of an atmospheric fluidized bed. Three different distributor types were used, perforated Perspex, metallic mesh, and porous ceramic, with pressure drops ranging from 0.05 to 350 kPa and superficial air velocities ranging from 0.1 to 2.3 m/s. Three sizes of silica Ballotini beads, 355–425, 600–710, and 850–1000 µm, were used as bed material. The static bed height was set to 300 mm and was divided into six horizontal 50 mm high slices. For each slice, pressure drop values were recorded for U₀/U_mf ratios from 20 to 1. In order to produce a reference for the pressure drop evolution, a modification of the two-phase theory was introduced, taking into consideration the increase in the average global porosity as well as the change in the ratio of flow through the bubbles versus the flow through the dense phase. This allowed assessment of the influence of the different operating conditions and setups on the quality of fluidization, Q?.     

The rise of a buoyant sphere in a gas-fluidized bed

The rise velocity, V, of a single sphere, released in the bottom of a bed of sand fluidized by air, was measured: the sphere had a diameter of 9.0 or 13.2 mm; its density ranged from 900 to . These experiments with a single sphere used: (i) a bubbling bed, diameter 141 mm, with 1.05<U/U_mf<2.00, (ii) a slugging bed, diameter 24 mm, with 1.70<U/U_mf<3.20. Here U is the fluidizing velocity; U=U_mf at incipient fluidization. It was found that, for each sphere in a given bed, V=V_mf+C(U-U_mf): the constant C was up to 10 times larger for bubbling beds than slugging beds.The rise velocity at incipient fluidization, V_mf, is governed, for both types of bed, by the apparent viscosity of the incipiently fluidized bed. Therefore, Stokes's law was used to predict V_mf, but using an important modification: since each buoyant sphere appears to carry on its top a defluidized ‘hood’ of particles, Stokes's law was applied to the composite ‘particle’ consisting of the sphere plus its hood. Analysis of the measured V_mf then gave the volume of the hood, in agreement with direct measurements of it above a fixed cylinder in a two-dimensional bed. In addition, the analysis gave the apparent viscosity of the incipiently fluidized bed to be 0.66 Pa s, in excellent agreement with the estimate of Grace (Can. J. Chem. Eng. 48 (1970) 30) for similar sand.     

The choice of distributor to bed pressure drop ratio in gas fluidised beds

The choice of the gas distributor to bed pressure drop ratio for the stable operation of gas fluidised beds is determined by the type of gas distributor and by the characteristics of the bed material. A critical analysis regarding the choice of the ratio has been made and reasons for diverse views expressed in the literature have been offered. An equation to determine U_M, the superficial gas velocity at which all the orifices in a distributor become operative in a uniformly fluidised bed has been suggested, i.e.

where U_mf and U_t are the minimum fluidisation velocity and the terminal velocity respectively. The distributor to bed pressure drop ratio (ΔP_d/ΔP_b) can be calculated from U_mf and U_M using the equation

where the constant C equals 2.     

Modified gas‐perturbed liquid model (GPLM) for minimum fluidization velocity in a two‐phase inverse fluidized bed reactor with Newtonian and non‐Newtonian systems

In the present investigation minimum fluidization velocity, U_mf, in a two‐phase inverse fluidized bed reactor is determined using low‐density polyethylene and polypropylene particles of different diameters (4,6 and 8 mm) by measuring pressure drop. In a glycerol system U_mf decreased gradually with increase in viscosity up to a value of 6.11 mPa s (60%) and on further increase there was a slight increase in U_mf. In the case of the glycerol system the U_mf was found to be higher when compared to water. In the non‐Newtonian system (carboxymethylcellulose), U_mf decreased with increase in concentration in the range of the present study. The U_mf was found to be lower when compared to water as liquid phase. The modified gas‐perturbed liquid model was used to predict the minimum fluidization liquid velocity (U_lmf) for Newtonian and non‐Newtonian systems. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of Bed Diameter,Distributor and Inserts on Minimum Fluidization Velocity

The minimum fluidization velocity of beds has been determined experimentally in beds of 0.089 m and 0.29 m diameters, respectively. The particles studied had sizes ranging from 100 μm to 1 mm in diameter, and densities from 1128 to 11400 kg/m³. Three distributors were used in the experimental scheme, each perforated by holes of 0.8 mm in diameter but with varying hole densities, as well as a porous plate. It was found that the minimum fluidization velocity was affected by both the diameter and distributor used. The effect of vertical tubular inserts on the minimum fluidization velocity was investigated in the 0.29 m diameter bed. The experimental data in the large bed, using four distributors, were parameterized within experimental error.     

Combustion of liquid petroleum gas in a fluidized bed furnace with a jetting-mixing distributor

Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fluidized beds have potential applications in metal heating or workpiece heat treatments. The combustion of LPG and the controls of the atmosphere inside the bed and the bed temperature are very concerned. The combustion of LPG has been investigated in a pilot-scale bubbling fluidized bed with a jetting-mixing nozzle distributor and hollow corundum sphere particles of 0.867-1.212 mm in diameter and 386-870 kg/m³ in bulk density at 800-1100°C. Experiments were carried out for fuel-rich mixtures to explore the possibility to obtain mild oxidizing, non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere in the bed. Air factor (the ratio of the volume of air actually fed into the bed to that in a stoichiometric mixture) is in between 0.3 and 1.0 and U/U_mf 1.3-3.0. The distributor brings LPG and air into an intense contact sufficient to permit in-bed combustion without backfire problems. The experimental results show that the fluidized bed furnace offers excellent thermal uniformity and temperature control. The size of the combustion zone is usually larger than that of the temperature variation zone. Particle properties, initial bed height, air factor and U/U_mf all affect the bed temperature profile, whereas only the air factor and U/U_mf have significant effects on the combustion in the bed. The bed temperature can be adjusted by separate or combined adjusting of air factor and U/U_mf.     

The nature of the flow just above the perforated plate distributor of a gas-fluidised bed, as imaged using magnetic resonance

Flow patterns within a 3D bed of oil-containing seeds fluidised by nitrogen have been observed for the first time using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Attention was focused on the lower region of the bed, just above the multi-orifice distributor: the orifices were 1.0 or 1.5 mm in diameter with square or triangular layouts, of pitch 7-10 mm. Two sizes of seeds were used: 1.2 and 0.50 mm. Each MRI image was a time-average over and measured the local concentration of seeds. Values of U/U_mf were in the range 0.0-3.6, where U is the superficial gas velocity and U=U_mf at incipient fluidisation. The images revealed:

(1)

There was a substantial ‘jet’ above each orifice in the distributor, remarkably these ‘jets’ were found even when U?U_mf. The length of a ‘jet’ increased with U/U_mf. Because of the time-averaged nature of the measurements, a ‘jet’ could be: (a) a permanent void, (b) a stream of bubbles, or (c) a ‘jet’ followed by bubbles.

(2)

When U/U_mf<1.0, the particles surrounding each ‘jet’ were in motion. This was apparent, particularly as U/U_mf approached 1.0, even though the bed was not fully fluidised at all points.

(3)

When U/U_mf>1.0, the upper parts of the ‘jets’ merged with each other forming a central dilute core. For the first time, a time-averaged velocity map over a horizontal plane was obtained; it demonstrated that the central core was rising upwards and that the surrounding material was descending.

(4)

Between each pair of ‘jets’, there was a small region of motionless particles sitting on the upper surface of the distributor, forming a fixed dead zone. A criterion for the maximum pitch of the orifices, to minimise the volume of this dead zone between pairs of ‘jets’, has been derived.

Simple correlations between dimensionless groups summarise the measurements well, giving the length and half angle of a ‘jet’ in terms of the gas velocity and other variables. These correlations are consistent with published results and include a dependence on the pitch of the orifices, which was found to be important.     

Effect of distributors on Gas—Solid Fluidization

The efficient operation of a fluidized bed is very much dependent upon distributor performance, which in turn depends on its design parameters. The work reported here deals with the characteristics of such distributors as are commonly employed in laboratories, pilot plant and large scale operations. Specifically a porous plate distributor, two bubble cap distributors of different geometries and four Johnson screen distibutors of different percent open area have been investigated in a 30.5 cm by 30.5 cm square fluidized bed as a function of air fluidizing velocity and bed height. The pressure drop data for all the distributors have been correlated by a single equation with two unknown constants. The ratio of distributor pressure drop to bed pressure drop is found to increase rapidly with increase in fluidization velocity. The bed expansion ratio is found to increase with increase in excess fluidization velocity and distributor pressure drop but decreases with increase in bed height or weight.     

Radial Gas Mixing in a Fluidized Bed with a Multi‐Horizontal Nozzle Distributor using Response Surface Methodology

The gas mixing in the radial direction within a fluidized bed equipped with a multi‐horizontal nozzle distributor was studied using response surface methodology (RSM), which enables the examination of parameters with a moderate number of experiments. All experiments were carried out in a circular fluidized bed of 0.29 m I.D. cold model fluidized bed. The distributor is placed beside twenty‐two horizontal nozzles that are arranged in three concentric circles with all existing discharge directed clockwise. The tracer gas (CO₂) was discharged into the bed as a tracer gas and the analysis was performed with a gas chromatograph. In order to compare the different internal circulations, the tracer gas was discharged in the center area or annular area of the bed. In RSM, the static bed height, superficial velocity and the open area ratio of the distributor are chosen as the research variables, and the standard deviation of the time averaged radial tracer concentration is used as the objection function. A mathematical model for the gas mixing as a function of the operating parameters was empirically proposed. The results show that the standard deviation of time averaged radial tracer concentration is well correlated with the operating and geometry parameters, (U – U_mf)/U_mf, H_s/D and ψ_d, and that the tracer gas injected to the center position has a better dispersion than when injected to the annular position. This model can be used for optimizing the design of fluidized bed reactors at a required performance level.     

Fluidization Characteristics in Micro‐Fluidized Beds of Various Inner Diameters

The fluidization characteristics of quartz sand and fluid catalytic crack (FCC) catalyst particles in six micro‐fluidized beds with inner diameters of 4.3, 5.5, 10.5, 15.5, 20.5, and 25.5 mm were investigated. The effects of bed diameter (D_t), static bed height (H_s), particles and gas properties on the pressure drop and minimum fluidization velocity (u_mf) were examined. The results show that the theoretical pressure drops of micro‐fluidized beds deviated from the experimental values under different particles and gas properties. The possible reason is due to an increase in bed voidage under smaller bed diameters. The equations for conventional fluidized beds did not fit for micro‐fluidized beds. u_mf increased with decreasing D_t. When the ratio of H_s to D_t ranged from 1:1 to 3:1, u_mf was characterized by a linear equation with H_s, while the slope of the equation u_mf versus H_s decreased with increasing D_t. In this paper, D_t/d_p and H_s/d_p were defined as dimensionless variables and a new equation was developed to predict u_mf in micro‐fluidized beds under the present experimental conditions.     

Fluidization with hot compressed water in micro-reactors

In this paper the concept of micro-fluidized beds is introduced. A cylindrical quartz reactor with an internal diameter of only 1 mm is used for process conditions up to and 244 bar. In this way, fast, safe, and inherently cheap experimentation is provided. The process that prompted the present work on miniaturization is gasification of biomass and waste streams in hot compressed water (SCWG). Therefore, water is used as fluidizing agent. Properties of the micro-fluid bed such as the minimum fluidization velocity (U_mf), the minimum bubbling velocity (U_mb), bed expansion, and identification of the fluidization regime are investigated by visual inspection. It is shown that the micro-fluid bed requires a minimum of twelve particles per reactor diameter in order to mimic homogeneous fluidization at large scale. It is not possible to create bubbling fluidization in the cylindrical micro-fluid beds used. Instead, slugging fluidization is observed for aggregative conditions. Conical shaped micro-reactors are proposed for improved simulation of the bubbling regime. Measured values of U_mf and U_mb are compared with predictions of dedicated 2D and 3D discrete particle models (DPM) and (semi)-empirical relations. The agreement between the measurements and the model predictions is good and the model supports the concept and development of micro-fluid beds.     

Theoretical and experimental study on hydrodynamic characteristics of fluidization in air-sand conical beds

This work was aimed at modeling hydrodynamic characteristics of fluidization in conical beds using quartz sand as the inert bed material and air as the fluidizing agent. The minimum fluidization velocity, u_mf, and the minimum velocity of full fluidization, u_mff, were determined by Peng and Fan's models modified for conical fluidized bed. Meanwhile, the pressure drop across a bed, Δp (including Δp_max and Δp_mff corresponding to u_mf and u_mff, respectively), was predicted by using modified Ergun's equations for variable superficial air velocity at an air distributor, u₀. The predicted results were validated by experimental data for some operating conditions. Effects of the sand particle size, cone angle and static bed height on the fluidization pattern and hydrodynamic characteristics are discussed. With the proposed models, the Δp-u₀ diagram were obtained with rather high accuracy for the conical air-sand beds of 30-45^° cone angles and 20-30 cm static bed heights, when using 300- sand particles. For the predicted u_mf and u_mff, the relative computational errors were found to be within 20% for wide ranges of operating variables, whereas Δp_max and Δp_mff could be predicted with lower (10-15%) relative errors. With higher cone angles and/or bed heights, the computational accuracy was found to deteriorate.     

Radial gas mixing in a fluidized bed using response surface methodology

Radial gas mixing in a fluidized bed was studied using response surface methodology (RSM), which enables effect examinations of parameters with a moderate number of experiments. All experiments were conducted in a 0.29-m ID fluidized-bed cold model. The gas dispersion process within the bed is described using the dispersed plug flow model. Pure carbon dioxide was used as the tracer gas, continuously injected into the center of the bed by a point source. The downstream radial tracer concentration profile was measured using a gas chromatograph.The radial gas dispersion coefficient, D_r, was well correlated with operating parameters and the particle and gas properties: (U−U_mf)/U_mf, H_s/d_b, φ_d, and Ar, with a determination coefficient R² of 0.966. Effect test indicates that the dimensionless characteristic velocity, (U−U_mf)/U_mf, has the most significant influence on D_r, while the static bed height to bed diameter ratio, H_s/d_b, is less remarkable. The interactions of (U−U_mf)/U_mf with the distributor open-area ratio, φ_d, and with the Archimedes number, Ar, both play important roles. An evolutive response surface model was proposed to describe the radial gas mixing in the bubbling/slugging fluidization regimes.     

Synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on Al2O3 supported Ni catalysts in a fluidized‐bed

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized on Al₂O₃ supported Ni catalysts from C₂H₂ and C₂H₄ feedstocks in a fluidized bed. The influence of the ratio of superficial gas velocity to the minimum fluidization velocity (U/U_mf), feedstock type, the ratio of carbon in the total quantity of gas fed to the reactor, reaction temperature, the ratio of hydrogen to carbon in the feed gas, and nickel loading were all investigated. Significantly, the pressure drop across the fluidized‐bed increased as the reaction time increased for all experiments, due to the deposition of MWNTs on the catalyst particles. This resulted in substantial changes to the depth and structure of the fluidized bed as the reaction proceeded, significantly altering the bed hydrodynamics. TEM images of the bed materials showed that MWNTs, metal catalysts, and alumina supports were predominant in the product mixture, with some coiled carbon nanotubes as a by‐product. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

EFFECT OF DISTRIBUTOR ON BUBBLE SIZE IN A CYLINDRICAL FLUIDIZED BED AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE†

The effects of temperature and distributor on bubble diameter were investigated using a cylindrical fluidized bed of 147 mm in diameter. Three perforated distributors having different holes in diameter and the same ratio of holes to bed area were used. Eruption diameters of bubbles were measured using a high speed video-camera system under the following conditions: bed temperature = 300 and 600 K, bed particles = spherical glass beads of 272 μm in average size, excess gas velocity = 1-4 cm/s, and static bed height equals; 10-42 cm. The bubble diameter at 600 K was larger than that at 300 K. The difference became smaller with increasing the static bed height and with increasing the excess gas velocity. The distributor with larger holes gave larger bubbles. The effect of hole diameter of the distributor on the bubble diameter became insignificant with increasing the static bed height and with increasing the excess gas velocity.     

Electrodeposition from a fluidized bed electrolyte. II. Effects of bed porosity and particle size

Mass transfer from a fluidized bed electrolyte containing inert particles has been found to depend on bed porosity and particle size. The optimum porosity was found to vary from 0.52 – 0.57 with decreasing particle size but mass transport increased with particle size.A mass transfer entry length effect was observed on the cylindrical cathode but its position within the bulk of the bed was found not to be critical, thus indicating that the hydrodynamic entry length was small. The limiting current density was found to vary as (d _e/L _e)^0.15 whered _e is the annular equivalent diameter andL _e the electrode length.List of symbols Re_I modified Reynolds No. =U _o d _p /v(1–) - Re_II particle Reynolds No. =U _o d _p /v - Re_O sedimentation Reynolds No. =U _i d _p v (constant value) - Re_t terminal particle Reynolds No. =U _t d _p /v - Sc Schmidt No. =v/D - St_I modified Stanton No. =k _L /U _o - C _b bulk concentration, M cm^–3 - D diffusion coefficient, cm² s^–1 - d _t tube diameter, mm - d _e electrode equivalent diameter, mm - d _p particle diameter, mm - bed porosity - zF Faradaic equivalence - cd current density - i _L limiting current density, mA cm^–2 - i _LO limiting current density in the absence of particles - k _L mass transfer coefficient, cm s_–1 - L _e electrode length, mm - m, n constants or indices - v kinematic viscosity, cm² s^–1 - U _o superficial velocity, cm s^–1 - U _i sedimentation velocity, cm s^–1