Mixing behaviors of wet granular materials in gas fluidized bed systems

The discrete element method combined with computational fluid dynamics was coupled with a capillary liquid bridge force model for computational studies of mixing behaviors in gas fluidized bed systems containing wet granular materials. Due to the presence of strong capillary liquid bridge forces between wet particles, relative motions between adjacent particles were hindered. There was a high tendency for wet particles to form large aggregates within which independent motions of individual particles were limited. This resulted in much lower mixing efficiencies in comparison with fluidization of dry particles. Capillary liquid bridge forces were on average stronger than both fluid drag forces and particle–particle collision forces and this accounted for the difficulty with which individual particles could be removed and transferred between aggregates. Such exchange of particles between aggregates was necessary for mixing to occur during fluidization of wet granular materials but required strong capillary liquid bridge forces to be overcome. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 4058–4067, 2013     

Fluidization characteristics of fine particles

A new voidage function is defined based on the Blake–Kozeny equation. This voidage function gives better correlations than those heretofore used in describing minimum fluidization characteristics. Due to the inter-particle cohesive forces, the channelling and bubbling often exist in the fluidization of fine particles. In consideration of the channelling effect, a correlation of the fluidization friction factor is proposed. It is also shown in experiments that the channelling in fine particle systems is reduced when coarser particles are added.     

Parametric study of fine particle fluidization under mechanical vibration

Investigations into the effects of vibration on fluidization of fine particles (4.8-216 μm average in size) show that the fluidization quality of fine particles can be enhanced under mechanical vibration, leading to larger bed pressure drops at low superficial gas velocities and lower values of u_mf. The effectiveness of vibration on improving fluidization is strongly dependent on the properties (Geldart particle type, size-distribution and shape) of the primary particles used and the vibration parameters (frequency, amplitude and angle) applied. The possible roles of mechanical vibration in fine particle fluidization have been studied with respect to bed voidage, pressure drop, agglomeration, and tensile strength of particle bed. Vibration is found to significantly reduce both the average size and the segregation of agglomerates in the bed, thus improving the fluidization quality of cohesive particles. Also, vibration can dramatically reduce the tensile strength of the particle bed. Obviously, vibration is an effective means to overcome the interparticle forces of fine powders in fluidization and enhance their fluidization quality.     

Fluidization of fine particles in a sound field and identification of group C/A particles using acoustic waves

Effects of sound field on the fluidization of fine particles have been comprehensively examined by using fine powders (4.8-65 μm average in size) including Al₂O₃, TiO₂, glass beads and FCC catalyst. It is found that the fluidization quality of fine particles can be enhanced with the assistance of a sound field, resulting in higher pressure drops and a lower u_mf. The effect of sound on the fluidization of fine particles is strongly dependent on the particle properties (Geldart type and particle size) as well as the parameters of the sound field such as sound pressure level (or intensity) and frequency. Given a fixed sound frequency, the effect becomes more significant at a higher sound pressure level. For the present sound-aided fluidized bed system, there is a resonant frequency at about 100-110 Hz, at which the effectiveness of the sound wave in improving fluidization of fine particles is most remarkable. In addition, based on the different attenuation features of sonic waves in the gas-solid suspension of group C and A particles, a novel acoustic method is explored to distinguish group C from group A particles.     

CFD–DEM modeling of gas fluidization of fine ellipsoidal particles

Particle characteristics are important factors affecting gas fluidization. In this work, the effects of both particle size and shape on fluidization in different flow regimes are studied using the combined computational fluid dynamic–discrete element method approach. The results are first analyzed in terms of flow patterns and fluidization parameters such as pressure drop, minimum fluidization, and bubbling velocities. The results show that with particle size decreasing, agglomerates can be formed for fine ellipsoidal particles. In particular, “chain phenomenon,” a special agglomerate phenomenon exists in expanded and fluidized beds for fine prolate particles, which is caused by the van der Waals force. The minimum fluidization velocity increases exponentially with the increase of particle size, and for a given size, it shows a “W” shape with aspect ratio. A correlation is established to describe the dependence of minimum fluidization velocity on particle size and shape. Ellipsoids have much higher minimum bubbling velocities and fluidization index than spheres. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 62–77, 2016     

流化床声发射机理及其在故障诊断中的应用

引　言流化床反应器能否长期稳定运行是一个十分严重的挑战 ,如果不彻底掌握流化质量的控制规律 ,对诸如强放热聚合反应过程 ,床层中流化粒子易于聚集、结块 ,甚至导致流化床崩溃而被迫停车 .因此 ,流化床故障诊断一直是工业界和学术界共同面临的难题 .流化系统一旦出现故障就会有反映流动规律本质的特征物理量出现较大变化以至突变 ,只是有些物理量对这些变化存在空间或时间上的不敏感性 .如压力信号就存在时间上的不敏感性 ,即往往压力信号出现显著变化时 ,床层流化质量已无法通过改变操作条件来改善 ;而光纤测量则存在空间上的不敏感性 ,…     

粘性SiC颗粒聚团流态化特性

对不同粒径的°SiC粘性颗粒的流态化实验表明,颗粒粒径对流化性能有较大影响,颗粒粒径越小,颗粒间粘附力越大,其流化性能越差;提出了粘性颗粒自然聚团数Ae_n和流态化聚团数Ae_f,用来表征颗粒的流化性能;指出了应开展粘性颗粒聚团流态化的研究。     

Aggregation behavior of nanoparticles in fluidized beds

The fluidization behavior of fumed silica, zirconia, and iron oxide nanopowders was studied at atmospheric and reduced pressures. Using a high-speed laser imaging system, the characteristics of fluidized aggregates of nanoparticles were studied in real time. The effect of different particle interactions such as London-van der Waals, liquid bridging and electrostatic on different fluidization parameters was studied at atmospheric pressure. The reduction of interparticle forces resulted in a reduced aggregate size and minimum fluidization velocity (U_mf) and an increased bed expansion. Nanoparticles were also fluidized at reduced pressure (∼ 16 Pa) with vibration to study the effect of low pressure on the minimum fluidization velocity. Aggregate properties (size, density) instead of primary nanoparticle properties were found to govern the minimum fluidization velocity and expansion of the fluidized bed. An important consideration is the relative strength of intra-aggregate interparticle forces (forces within the aggregate holding nanoparticles together) to inter-aggregate interparticle forces (forces between aggregates). This relative strength may be inferred from the sphericity of the aggregates during fluidization.     

声场流化床流动特性研究进展

声场流化床是将声场引入普通流化床,采用颗粒为床层介质的流固相处理系统。声波可以有效降低颗粒聚团尺寸,显著改善超细颗粒的流化质量。本文介绍了声场流化床的基本原理以及近年来在基础研究和应用方面取得的进展及成果,综述了声场流化床在流体力学特性、颗粒特性、声场参数、流态化模型、颗粒团聚以及流化质量机理等方面的研究,并对声场流化床目前存在的问题及发展趋势提出了一些建议。     

细颗粒的团聚流态化及其判定

本文在考查了不同细颗粒的流态化过程及物料的气动特性与粘附力关系的基础上，提出了当量流态化的概念；实验发现聚团密度的减小是改善细颗粒流化性能的一种有效途径；根据气动情况下不同的成团结果，把细颗粒的聚团流态化分成了三类：沟流；似A类聚团流态化；似B／D类聚团流态化；同时，结合实验结果，给出了不同细颗粒聚团流态化类型的定量判据     

Fluidization of spherical versus elongated particles: Experimental investigation using magnetic particle tracking

In biomass processing fluidized beds are used to process granular materials where particles typically possess elongated shapes. However, for simplicity, in computer simulations particles are often considered spherical, even though elongated particles experience more complex particle– particle interactions as well as different hydrodynamic forces. The exact effect of these more complex interactions in dense fluidized suspensions is still not well understood. In this study we use the magnetic particle tracking technique to compare the fluidization behavior of spherical particles to that of elongated particles. We found a considerable difference between fluidization behavior of spherical versus elongated particles in the time-averaged particle velocity field as well as in the time-averaged particle rotational velocity profile. Moreover, we studied the effect of fluid velocity and the particle's aspect ratio on the particle's preferred orientation in different parts of the bed, which provides new insight in the fluidization behavior of elongated particles.     

A numerical study of fluidization behavior of Geldart A particles using a discrete particle model

This paper reports on a numerical study of fluidization behavior of Geldart A particles by use of a 2D soft-sphere discrete particle model (DPM). Some typical features, including the homogeneous expansion, gross particle circulation in the absence of bubbles, and fast bubbles, can be clearly displayed if the interparticle van der Waals forces are relatively weak. An anisotropy of the velocity fluctuation of particles is found in both the homogeneous fluidization regime and the bubbling regime. The homogeneous fluidization is shown to represent a transition phase resulting from the competition of three kinds of basic interactions: the fluid-particle interaction, the particle-particle collisions (and particle-wall collisions) and the interparticle van der Waals forces. In the bubbling regime, however, the effect of the interparticle van der Waals forces vanishes and the fluid-particle interaction becomes the dominant factor determining the fluidization behavior of Geldart A particles. This is also evidenced by the comparisons of the particulate pressure with other theoretical and experimental results.     

Particle entrainment from gas‐solid fluidized beds: Conductive vs. dielectric fines

Conductive and non‐conductive fine powders were entrained by air at atmospheric temperature and pressure in a fluidization column of diameter 0.15 m made of stainless steel. Under equivalent operating conditions, entrainment of the conductive particles was markedly higher than for non‐conductive species. This finding cannot be explained by hydrodynamic factors. Examining the electrostatic interaction between touching particles reveals that dominance of the inter‐particle attractive forces hinders independent motion of non‐conductive particles in the freeboard. In addition, because of non‐uniform distribution of the electrical charges over the surface of dielectric particles, they are subject to stronger electrostatic forces than for particles made of conductive materials. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1194–1202, 2017     

影响粉末流化的本征作用力及其调节

本文归纳了人们对粒间力的分析和计算，指出了影响颗粒间作用进而影响其流化质量的各种因素，并从改善微细物料流化质量的角度，综述了近年来国内外流化微细物料的诸多措施，将其归结为两大类型：外力场方法与本征途径，以作为进一步探求微细物料流态化的研究基础．     

The effect of cohesive forces on the fluidization of aeratable powders

The effects of cohesive forces of van der Waals type in the fluidization/defluidization of aeratable type A powders in the Geldart classification are numerically investigated. The effects of friction and particle‐size distribution (PSD) on some design‐significant parameters, such as minimum fluidization and bubbling velocities, are also investigated. For these types of particles, cohesive forces are observed as necessary to fully exhibit the role friction plays in commonly observed phenomena, such as pressure overshoot and hysteresis around minimum fluidization. This study also shows that a full‐experimental PSD consisting of a dozen particle sizes may be sufficiently represented by a few particle diameters. Reducing the number of particle types may benefit the continuum approach, which is based on the kinetic theory of granular flow, by reducing computational expense, while still maintaining the accuracy of the predictions. Published 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 60: 473–484, 2014     

黏性颗粒流态化的气固流动模型研究进展

黏性颗粒间存在较强的范德华力、液体桥力、静电力等黏附力作用,在流态化时易发生聚团现象,影响流化床的正常操作. 连续介质模型、离散颗粒模型和拟颗粒模型用于研究颗粒聚团流态化行为时各有优缺点. 基于欧拉方法的连续介质模型无法具体描述颗粒间的相互作用;采用拉格朗日法则能从颗粒微观受力、颗粒碰撞、聚团流动等多尺度研究黏性颗粒的流态化特性. 但受限于巨大的运算量,离散颗粒模型模拟的颗粒数有限,拟颗粒模型目前仅适合处理纳微尺度问题. 随着高性能计算机的发展和普及,基于拉格朗日法的黏性颗粒流动模型应用前景广阔.     

Characterization of fluidization regime in circulating fluidized bed reactor with high solid particle concentration using computational fluid dynamics

The hydrodynamics inside a high solid particle concentration circulating fluidized bed reactor was investigated using computational fluid dynamics simulation. Compared to a low solid particle reactor, all the conventional fluidization regimes were observed. In addition, two unconventional fluidization regimes, circulating-turbulent and dense suspension bypassing regimes, were found with only primary gas injection. The circulating-turbulent fluidization regime showed uniformly dense solid particle distribution in all the system directions, while the dense suspension bypassing fluidization regime exhibited the flow of solid particles at only one side system wall. Then, comprehensive fluidization regime clarification and mapping were evaluated using in-depth system parameters. In the circulating-turbulent fluidization regime, the total granular temperature was low compared to the adjacent fluidization regimes. In the dense suspension bypassing fluidization regime, the highest total granular temperature was obtained. The circulating-turbulent and dense suspension bypassing fluidization regimes are suitable for sorption and transportation applications, respectively.     

Density segregation of dry and wet granular mixtures in gas fluidized beds

The Discrete Element Method combined with Computational Fluid Dynamics was coupled to a capillary liquid bridge force model for computational studies of mixing and segregation behaviors in gas fluidized beds containing dry or wet mixtures of granular materials with different densities. The tendency for density segregation decreased with increasing fluidizing velocity, coefficient of restitution, and amount of liquid present. Due to the presence of strong capillary forces between wet particles, there was a high tendency for particles to form agglomerates during the fluidization process, resulting in lower segregation efficiency in comparison with fluidization of dry particles. Particle‐particle collision forces were on average stronger than both fluid drag forces and capillary forces. The magnitudes of drag forces and particle‐particle collision forces increased with increasing fluidizing velocity and this led to higher mixing or segregation efficiencies observed in dry particles as well as in wet particles at higher fluidizing velocities. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 4069–4086, 2015     

Effect of inclination on gas-fluidized beds of fine cohesive powders

Results are presented of an experimental investigation on how bed inclination affects the fluidization and sedimentation behavior of fine cohesive particles. In contrast with the expected Geldart C behavior, and due to self-agglomeration, these fine particles are uniformly fluidized by gas in a vertically oriented bed, displaying a fluid-like regime and expanding smoothly as the gas velocity is increased. When the gas flow supply to the bed is suddenly stopped, the initial sedimentation velocity of the vertically oriented bed is similar to the fluidizing gas velocity as corresponds to uniform fluidization. The main effect of inclination is to induce fluidization heterogeneity. The local gas velocity increases in the adjacent region to the upper wall at the expense of the region adjacent to the lower wall. This situation anticipates the onset of local bubbling in the region adjacent to the upper wall. Meanwhile the region adjacent to the lower wall remains in a solid-like state and does not reach the fluid-like state until values of the gas flow are applied much higher than those needed in a vertical fluidized bed. As a consequence, the expansion and fluidization uniformity of the tilted bed are hindered. If the gas supply to the inclined bed is suddenly stopped, and because of induced heterogeneity, sedimentation takes place at a decreased rate as compared with sedimentation velocity in the uniformly fluidized vertical bed.