A study of heat transfer in a circulating fluidized bed

An experimental investigation was carried out to study the effects of operating parameters on the local bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient in a 4.5 m tall, 0.150 m diameter circulating fluidized bed with a bed temperature in the range of 65°C to 80°C, riser flow rate varying from 1400 litres/min to 2000 litres/min, bed inventory in the range of 15 kg to 25 kg of sand, and average sand sizes of 200 μm, 400 μm and 500 μm. A heat flux probe was attached to the riser wall at five different vertical locations for measuring the heat flux from the bed to the wall surface. From the present work, the heat transfer coefficient in the dilute phase was found to be in the range of 62 to 83 W/m²K, 51 to 74 W/m²K, and 50 to 59 W/m² K for sand sizes of 200 μm, 400 μm and 500 μm, respectively. Relevant mathematical correlations were developed to predict local heat transfer coefficient based on the results of the practical work.     

Modelling heat transfer in a circulating fluidized bed

A model for the bed-to-wall heat transfer under low temperature condition in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) was developed based upon a simplified cluster renewal concept. The age of clusters in contact with the wall at different locations along the height of the CFB was estimated as the weighted average age considering their formation and disintegration. One set of experimental data on heat transfer in a 4.5-metre high, 0.15-metre diameter CFB under low temperature condition (67–77°C) was chosen for comparison with prediction of local heat transfer coefficient. The experimental observation and prediction have shown a qualitative agreement.     

Method of calculation of heat transfer coefficient of the heater in a circulating fluidized bed furnace

Knowledge of heat transfer coefficients is important in the design and operation of CFB boilers. It is the key to determining the area and the layout of the heat transfer surfaces in a CFB furnace. Local bulk density has a close relationship to the local heat transfer coefficient. Using a heat flux probe and bulk density sampling probe, the local bed to wall heat transfer coefficient in the furnace of a 75 t/h CFB boiler was measured. According to the experimental results and theoretical analysis of the facts that influence the heat transfer, the heat transfer coefficient calculation method for the CFB furnace was developed. The heat transfer surface configuration, heating condition, and the material density are considered in this method. The calculation method has been used in the design of CFB boilers with a capacity from 130 t/h to 420 t/h. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(7): 540–550, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10056     

Experimental study of convective heat transfer coefficient for pulsed fluidized bed using microcapsule phase change material

The convective heat transfer coefficient in a pulsating cylindrical fluidized bed using microcapsule particle-phase change material (MPCM) was examined experimentally. A solenoid on and off valve was used to provide the pulsation and was varied from 1 to 10 Hz. The test section in the bed was loaded with granular microparticle-phase change material (MPCM) with an average diameter of 200 µm. The pulsation effect on the thermal field, thermal storage, and heat transfer coefficient was investigated for 1.5, 2, and 2.5 of minimum fluidization velocity. Results indicated that the amplitude of the oscillation decreases with increasing in pulsation frequency. An increase in heat transfer rate was shown to be related to the superficial velocity. The maximum performance was obtained for the frequency of 7 Hz at the velocity ratio of 2.5. The convective heat transfer increased by 17% for frequency pulsation of 7 Hz. Furthermore, the Duty cycle (η) is defined as the ratio of turn-on duration to the total turn-on and off duration for entering airflow to the solenoid valve. It was shown that the η > 0.4 led to better mixing and higher heat transfer. However, the pulsation effect was shown to disappear for the duty cycle of higher than 0.8. Comparison with the available experimental data of others for continuous flow was in good agreement.     

Fluid flow and heat transfer in fluidized bed vertical shell and tube type heat exchanger

Measurements were made on the effects of circulating solid particles on the characteristics of fluid flow and heat transfer in the fluidized bed vertical shell and tube type heat exchanger with counterflow. The present work showed that the flow velocity range for collision of particles to the tube wall was higher with heavier density solid particles, and the increase in heat transfer was in the order of sand, copper, steel, aluminum, and glass.     

Further study on the influence of particle coating on fluidized bed heat transfer

Heat transfer to an immersed sphere from fluidized uncoated sand particles of different mean size and size distribution is compared with that from coated sand particles of equal size extracted from two full-scale fluidized bed boilers for different superficial gas velocities and mean particle diameters from 350 to 646 μm. The thin coating on the sand bed particles from full-scale boilers was found to have a significant effect on the heat transfer coefficient, while the particle size distributions, as well as coating thickness, had little or no influence on the heat transfer coefficients for the conditions investigated.     

Heat transfer characteristics in a small-scale fluidized bed boiler

Heat transfer characteristics in a small-scale fluidized bed boiler (2MW_th) were studied using lignite and corn cob as fuels. Depending on air velocity, the heat transfer rates from bed to water membrane wall and from hot flue gas to convective tube bank were in the ranges 75–55% and 25–45% of the total heat absorbed by the boiler, respectively. At designed capacity, the heat transfer flux based on bed cross sectional area and on water membrane wall area were about 0·45 and 0·15 MWm⁻², respectively. Under the conditions studied, it was found that the overall heat transfer coefficient between bed and water membrane wall was 100–300 W m⁻² K⁻¹, whereas that between flue gas and convective tube bank was 10–30 Wm⁻² K⁻¹. The study of heat transfer to a horizontal tube immersed in the bed as well as placed in the freeboard region were also studied. The effective heat transfer coefficients were found to be 300–800 W m⁻² K⁻¹ for in-bed tube and 30–150 W m⁻² K⁻¹ for the freeboard region, depending on air velocity. Comparison of these data with those predicted by both modelling and correlation reported in the literature was also made. For the immersed tube, good agreement was observed for low air velocity, while at high air velocity the experiment produced results twice those estimated from modelling and correlation. For the freeboard region, the model gave a fair prediction.     

Bed-to-wall heat transfer behavior in a pressurized circulating fluidized bed

An experimental investigation has been made to study the effect of pressure and other relevant operating parameters on bed hydrodynamics and bed-to-wall heat transfer in a pressurized circulating fluidized bed (PCFB) riser column of 37.5 mm internal diameter and 1940 mm height. The experiments have been conducted with and without bed material for the consideration of frictional pressure drop due to gas density at elevated pressures. The pressure drop measured without sand particles is assumed as the pressure drop due to gas density for the calculation of bed voidage and suspension density profiles. The specially designed heat transfer probe is used to measure the bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient. The experimental results have been compared with the published literature and good agreement has been observed. The axial bed voidage is less in the bottom zone of the riser column and is increasing along the height of the bed. With the increase in system pressure, the bed voidage is found to be increasing in the bottom zone and decreasing in the top zone. The heat transfer coefficient increases with the increase in system pressure as well as with the gas superficial velocity. The heat transfer coefficient is also observed to be increasing with the increase in average suspension density.     

Transient heat transfer and bubble dynamics in a pressurized fluidized bed

A flow visualization technique for studying the gas bubble dynamics in a pressurized fluidized bed was developed and used to quantify these dynamics at the surface of a vertical tube submerged in the bed. Transient heat flux measurements were made and correlated with bubble motion. As a result, it is concluded that the heat transfer process is strongly affected by bubble dynamics and is much more complex than any of the generally accepted models can predict. It is also shown that the overall bed operating conditions are the primary driver for local bubble/particle motion around the tube which significantly affects the time-dependent fluctuation in local heat transfer.     

Axial and radial heat transfer studies in a circulating fluidized bed

The axial and radial variation of the heat transfer coefficient in a circulating fluidized bed riser column, and the effect of operating parameters thereon, are investigated. The experimental set-up consists of a riser column of 102 mm×102 mm in bed cross-section, 5·25 m in height with a return leg of the same dimensions. The unit is fabricated with plexiglass columns of 0·6 m in length which are interchangeable with one another. Two axial heat transfer test sections of 102 mm×102 mm in cross-section, 500 mm in height, and made of mild steel, are employed for the axial heat transfer study and one horizontal tube section of 22·5 mm OD made of mild steel is employed for the radial heat transfer study. The primary air velocity is varied between 4·21 and 7·30 m s⁻¹. Local sand of mean size (d_p) 248 μm is used as the bed material. One empirical model with the help of dimensional analysis has been proposed to predict the heat transfer coefficient to a bare horizontal tube in a CFB riser column and the model results are validated with the experimental data; good agreement has been observed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow boiling heat transfer in circulating fluidized bed

In order to enhance heat transfer and mitigate contamination in the boiling processes, a new type of vapor-liquid-solid (3-phase) circulating fluidized bed boiling system has been designed, combining a circulating fluidized bed with boiling heat transfer. Experimental results show an enhancement of the boiling curve. Flow visualization studies concerning flow hydrodynamics within the riser column are also conducted whose results are presented and discussed.     

Study on boiling heat transfer in liquid saturated particle bed and fluidized bed

An investigation on the effects of solid particles on boiling heat transfer enhancement is performed. The range of particle diameter is from millimeter to nanometer. The experimental results show that boiling heat transfer can be enhanced greatly by adding the solid particle into the liquid whether in fixed particle bed or in fluidized particle bed. The boiling enhancement is closely related to the particle size, the initial bed depth and the heat flux applied. The experiments show that boiling characteristics are greatly changed when a particle layer is put on the heated surface. The major effects of fixed particle bed on nucleate pool boiling heat transfer are the nucleation, bubble moving and thermal conductivity effect. A boiling heat transfer correlation is obtained to predict the boiling heat transfer coefficients in a liquid saturated porous bed. A volumetric convection mechanism of boiling heat transfer enhancement by fluidized particles is proposed. The calculated results from the model suggested in this paper agree reasonably with the experimental values.     

Flow boiling heat transfer in circulating fluidized bed

In order to enhance heat transfer and mitigate contamination in the boiling processes, a new type of vapor-liquid-solid (3-phase) circulating fluidized bed boiling system has been designed, combining a circulating fluidized bed with boiling heat transfer. Experimental results show an enhancement of the boiling curve. Flow visualization studies concerning flow hydrodynamics within the riser column are also conducted whose results are presented and discussed.     

Simulation study of flow and heat transfer in a thermosyphon

By establishing a mathematical model in the thermosyphon system, the numerical simulation method is used for the temperature field, flow field distribution in heat pipe simulated calculation in recent years. In this article, we combine the thermosyphon engineering actuality, build up the Nusselt model, write the visual program with the VB code, and make use of the computer to carry on imitating the calculation. Meanwhile, the calculation predicted temperature profile in the thermosyphon was compared with experimental measurements and a good agreement was observed. Through the research, it can provide theoretical basis for the optimization of heat pipe model in the future.     

A study on heat transfer for immersed tube in internally circulating fluidized bed

INTRODUCTIONThemethodhowtodealwiththedomesticandindustrialwasteswithoutfurthercontaminationisoneofthemostimportantenvironmentalissues.Fluidizedbedcombustor(FBC)hasadvantagesofhighcombustionefficiency)lowpollution,convenienceinpreprocessingbeforefedin...     

Local instantaneous temperature and time‐averaged heat transfer coefficient in the bottom zone of a circulating fluidized bed

Local instantaneous temperature signal and time‐averaged heat transfer coefficient were measured using a miniature heat transfer probe. The experiments were carried out in the bottom zone of a 5.8m high, 0.3m×0.5m rectangular cross‐section circulating fluidized bed. The results show that the heat transfer coefficient was higher near the walls, and became lower near the central region, and that the heat transfer coefficient decreases with increment of the air velocity due to the associated reduction of solids holdup in the bottom zone. In addition, the power spectrum density functions of the local instantaneous temperature signal can be characterized by the 1/f‐like distribution. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of catalyst particle hydrodynamic and heat transfer in three phase flow circulating fluidized bed

Vaporization of gas oil droplets has significant effects on the gas-solid flow hydrodynamic and heat transfer characteristic. A three dimensional CFD model of the riser section of a CFB have been developed considering three phase flow hydrodynamic, heat transfer and evaporation of the feed droplets. Several experiments were performed in order to obtain the data needed to evaluate the model using a pilot scale CFB unit. The Eulerian approach was used to model both gas and catalyst particle phases comprising of continuity, momentum, heat transfer and species equations as well as an equation for solid phase granular temperature. The flow field and evaporating liquid droplet characteristics were modeled using the Lagrangian approach. The catalyst particle velocity and volume fraction were measured using a fiber optic probe. The comparison between model predictions of catalyst particle velocity and volume fraction with the experimental data indicated that they were in good agreements and the Syamlal-O'Brien was the most accurate drag equation. The CFD model was capable of predicting the main characteristic of the complex gas-solids flow hydrodynamic and heat transfer, including the cluster formation of the catalyst particles near the reactor wall. In addition, the simulation results showed droplet vaporization caused reduction of catalyst particle residence time. Moreover, the higher ratios of the feed to catalyst flow rates led to the lower values of the catalyst temperature profile minimum.     

Numerical study of different gas–solid flow regimes effects on hydrodynamics and heat transfer performance of a fluidized bed reactor

In this study, a two‐?uid Eulerian–Eulerian model has been carried out applying the kinetic theory of granular flow (KTGF) to study the hydrodynamics and heat transfer behavior of a fluidized bed reactor simultaneously. The effects of different gas–solid flow regimes on the operating conditions and heat transfer rate between the hot air and two types of low and high‐density inert particles are investigated in a fluidized bed dryer. Different gas–solid flow regimes for wood and glass particles of groups A, B, and D of Geldart's classification are simulated to introduce the most optimal flow regime in terms of heat transfer rate and operating costs. The compromise between the heating rate, the height required for the reactor, and the ratio of the final mass to the initial mass of solid particles, which specifies the need for a cyclone separator showed that the bubbling regime of Geldart B powder for low‐density particles and the turbulent regime of Geldart D powder or bubbling regime of Geldart B powder for high‐density particles are the optimal operating conditions and flow regimes. Furthermore, it was concluded that the convective heat transfer is the dominant mechanism, which increases with increasing the air velocity and decreasing the particle diameter in each group.     

Heat transfer characteristics in a pulsating fluidized bed in relation to bubble characteristics

A pulsating fluidized bed is operated with two sequential durations designated as an on‐period with injecting fluidization gas and an off‐period without it. The heat transfer coefficient between a vertically immersed heater and bed in a pulsating fluidized bed is measured under various pulse cycles and fluidized particles. The obtained results are compared with those in a normal fluidized bed with continuous fluidization air injection. The relationship between heat transfer coefficients and bubble characteristics, evaluated using a digital video camera, has also been investigated. For certain fluidized particles and operating pulse cycles, the fluidization of particles and the increment of heat transfer coefficients can be obtained under a mean air velocity based on a pulse cycle duration smaller than the minimum fluidization air velocity in a normal fluidized bed. Under the pulse cycles where a static bed through the whole bed is formed in the off‐period duration, the improved heat transfer rate over that in a normal fluidized bed can be measured. This may be attributed to large bubble formation. As heat transfer in the pulsating fluidized bed is obstructed with increasing time to keep a static bed due to the excessive off‐period duration, it is indicated that there is an optimum off‐period duration based on the heat transfer rate. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(4): 307–319, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10038     

CFD modeling of hydrodynamic and heat transfer in fluidized bed reactors

In this study, a gas–solid fluidized bed reactor has been simulated applying CFD techniques in order to investigate hydrodynamic and heat transfer phenomena. Reactor model predictions were compared with corresponding experimental data reported in the literature to validate the model. The results indicate that considering two solid phases, particles with smaller diameters have lower volume fraction at the bottom of the bed and higher volume fraction at the top of the bed. In addition, it was revealed that bed expansion was larger when a bimodal particle mixture was applied compared with the case of mono-dispersed particles. Gas and solid phase temperature distributions in the reactor were also computed, considering the hydrodynamic of the fluidized bed and the heat generated by the solid particles. The results showed that gas temperature increases as it moves upward in the reactor due to the heat of polymerization reaction leading to the higher temperatures at the top of the bed.