Designing optimally-graded depth filter media using a novel multiscale method

Even though current manufacturing methods allow to build precisely-defined graded depth filter media, it remains unclear which local filtration properties are desirable. We, therefore, introduce a multiscale approach which links pore and continuum scale (PS and CS) to address this question. Based on data from PS simulations, local filtration performance, as described by the filter coefficient, is predicted on the CS by an optimal control solution and the obtained trajectory is translated back to the PS where it is validated. Two case studies are presented: a bidisperse fibrous medium and a granular depth filter composed of bidisperse particles. Both media are optimized to achieve a homogenous deposition of separated impurities along the filter depth. It is found that the presented method allows to reach this goal reasonably well in both cases. We claim that our method forms a good basis for further developments for which promising possibilities are highlighted.     

Flow dynamics in a four-inch downer using solids concentration measurements

Local solids concentration fluctuations were measured in a long downer reactor (0.1 m ID, 9.3 m tall) using an optical fiber probe. Axial flow development and radial flow dynamics were analyzed using both statistical and chaos methods. Core, transition and annulus regions were identified and each region showed different flow behavior. Cross-sectional averaged chaos parameters were correlated to cross-sectional averaged solids holdup to develop relationships between non-linear flow dynamics and operating conditions.     

Detailed measurements of flow structure inside a dense gas–solids fluidized bed

Detailed local flow structures are investigated in bubbling and turbulent fluidized bed with FCC particles. The operating conditions ranges from 0.06 to 1.4 m/s. Extensive experiments are carried out using a newly developed optical fiber probe system, which can measure the solids concentration and velocity at multi-points. The results reveal that with increasing U_g, local solids concentrations go through three evolution stages, reflecting a gradual regime transition process. Under all operating conditions, upflowing and descending particles co-exist at all measuring locations. The upflowing particle velocity is strong function of both superficial gas velocity and spatial position. However, the descending particle velocity mainly depends on superficial gas velocity. The bed radial symmetry and the effects of static bed height on the local flow structures are also investigated.     

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.     

循环喷动流化床固体循环速率的控制

通过研究操作条件对固体循环速率的影响 ,提出了新型的固体循环速率的双阀控制理论模型 ,基于循环喷动流化床中颗粒循环推动力的分析 ,得出了预测循环喷动流化床中固体循环速率最大值的方法     

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.     

Modelling the solids inflow and solids conveying of single-screw extruders using the discrete element method

A new solids-conveying model for the single-screw extruder based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is proposed in this work. The polymer solids are treated as spherical particles moving in a 3-D environment which includes the feed hopper, the solids-inflow zone, and the solids-conveying region of an extruder, without inclusion of the plug flow assumption common to continuum models. Normal and tangential forces resulting from inelastic collisions with neighboring particles and surfaces dictate how each polymer pellet is conveyed through the model extruder. The DEM technique was implemented in this work to allow fundamental study of the local transport phenomena within the screw channel. Reported in this paper are results examining the cross- and down-channel velocity profile of solids in the screw; the residence time distribution; the cross-channel temperature profile; and the coordination number distribution. Two exit conditions were evaluated by the model: i) the open-discharge case where no compaction of the solids occurred; and ii) the restricted case where the axial pressure increased as the solids flowed towards the barrel exit. The predictions of the DEM simulations allowed for detailed observations of the solids movement in the screw, providing insight into the inherent flow fluctuations of extrusion systems.     

Experimental study of the effect of internals on optimizing gas-solid flow in a circulating fluidized bed

The solids concentration in a circulating fluidized bed of flue gas desulfurization (CFB-FGD) is low, and the gas-solid mixing needs to be strengthened to improve the reaction efficiency. The addition of internals in a square CFB-FGD is studied here. Different sizes of wedge-shaped internals were set in the middle of the riser on opposite sides of the bed, at same height or at different heights. By comparing the concentration distributions, we found that positioning the internals at different heights is more effective in increasing the density of the center region. By observing the radial distribution of the fractal dimension, we found that a strong degree of turbulence can improve the gas-solid mixing. A larger upper/smaller lower arrangement of the internals with a moderate apparent gas velocity provided the best flow field, with increased concentration gradients and improved gas-solid mixing.     

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.     

Assessment of surface and depth filters by filter quality

This paper reviews the concept of filter quality (q_F) for dust filtration media composed of different structures: metal fiber beds (MFB), fabric filters (BF), and fly ash filters (FAF). Filter quality is a useful index of the filtration performance, which incorporates both pressure drop and filtration efficiency. Major parameters affecting the filter quality are filtration velocity in the range of 0.06-0.19 m/s, dust loading, porosity of the medium in the range of 75-93%, and internal structure of the medium. The experimental observation showed that filter quality decreased with increasing filtration velocity or dust concentration. A unique increase in filter quality during the initial stage of filtration appeared with the FAF as a result of the predominately surface filtration with less pore clogging. Nevertheless, the filter quality cannot be taken as an absolute indicator of filter performance, but rather it should be used just as a reference parameter depending on operating conditions. The results of this work show that fly ash filters are capable of providing more stable performance, particularly during the initial stage of filtration, and thereafter of a certain time filter quality initiates to decline as other filters.     

Continuous separation of mixed solids using a rotating-screen fluidized bed

The rotating-screen fluidized bed was shown to be an efficient separator for particles in the size range 1 - 5 mm immersed in a fluidizing medium composed of finer particles. Destruction of bubbles by the rotating screens attenuated wake-induced vertical mixing to an extent that permitted the device to approximate a liquid phase float/sink separator. A theoretical model gave realistic values for diffusivity and differential settling velocities, but was incompatible with the observed lack of influence of bed depth on separation effectiveness.     

Large-scale numerical investigation of solids mixing in a V-blender using the discrete element method

Over the past few years, the discrete element method (DEM) has been used in models for the simulation of granular flows in various mixing applications. If these models have shown rather efficient, they have so far been applied to predict the behavior of small numbers of particles over limited spans of time. The objective of this work is to show that DEM-based models can be used to predict the flow behavior of large numbers of particles over large spans of time and, more particularly, mixing phenomena that take time to manifest in such systems. To this end, several large-scale DEM-based numerical investigations of the flow of monodisperse and bidisperse blends of up to 225 000 particles over a span of 120 s in a V-blender will be discussed using entities such as the particle velocity and granular temperature, the torque of the mixing system, RSD curves and mixing times.     

炭粒床高效工业除尘装置的设计与开发

The new dust removal technical route using the carbon-granular bed filter,packed of carbon particles with appropriate grade derive from an online-process vibration sieve,to replace the traditional baggy filter had been developed successfully for capturing the micro-carbon dusts produced from pulverization of petroleum coke,and the green close loop of carbon materials is thus completed in the combined pulverizing and classifying system and pulverized carbon dust removal process.The high dust removal efficiency greater than 99%,low outlet dust concentration less than 100 mg.m-3,low pressure drop through dust filtration chamber less than 980 Pa,simple and easy design,and flexible and stable operation were achieved also with the carbon-granular bed filter in both bench and industrial scale operations.     

Radial profiles of solids loading and flux in a gas–solid circulating fluidized bed

An electrical-impedance tomography (EIT) system has been developed to non-invasively measure radial voidage profiles in the riser of a pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed (CFB), yielding quantitative information that is validated by comparison to a gamma-densitometry tomography (GDT) system. EIT and GDT were applied to the CFB riser (14-cm inner diameter, 5.77-m height) containing fluid catalytic cracking particles in air. For all cases, the average and near-wall voidages from EIT and GDT agreed to within 0.03 and 0.07, respectively. This good agreement suggests that, where feasible, EIT can be used in place of GDT, which is advantageous since EIT systems are often safer, less expensive, and faster than GDT systems. The results also compared well to two correlations for radial voidage profile from the literature. Finally, a procedure for determining radial solids flux profiles from radial voidage profiles using an additional correlation [M.J. Rhodes, X.S. Wang, H. Cheng, T. Hirama, B.M. Gibbs, Similar profiles of solids flux in circulating fluidized-bed risers, Chemical Engineering Science 47 (1992) 1635–1643] was investigated. It was found that the accuracy of this correlation strongly depends on the voidage and/or solids flux measurement at the riser center.     

Profiles of particle velocity and solids fraction in a high-density riser

Radial profiles of particle velocity and solids fraction in a high density circulating fluidized bed (HDCFB) at average cross-sectional solids fraction up to 0.21 were measured by an improved optical fiber laser doppler velocimeter and an optical fiber density sensor. The axial development of these radial profiles and the influence of operating conditions on the profiles were examined. The results showed that similar radial profiles of solids fraction exist in the HDCFB. The following Boltzman function can correlate well the solids fraction profile: (1 − )/(1 − ) = 2.2 − (2)/(1 + exp(10·r/R −7.665)). The radial profiles of particle velocity in HDCFB can also be described by the Boltzman function, that is, (V_p)/ (U_g) = (2.7)/(1 + exp(10·r/R −10·X_o) − 0.2). The Boltzman profiles of particle velocity in the high density operating regime was different with the parabolic shape operating in dilute phase regime. The local particle fluctuation velocity in the center of the riser increases with average solids concentration, while the fluctuation velocity decreases sharply as the radial position near the wall.     

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.     

低压稳流核桃壳过滤器的开发及在油田废水处理中的应用

为了解决现有核桃壳过滤装置反冲洗憋压、跑料、滤料再生困难的问题,经过分析,根据反冲洗理论,对过滤器进行改造,开发出低压稳流核桃壳过滤器。通过现场测试,证明低压稳流核桃壳过滤器反冲洗压力可以由原来的0.15~0.40 MPa降低到0.03~0.06 MPa,且能够实现罐群水反冲洗,反冲洗效果好,滤料再生效果好。干净的滤料使进水压力由原来的0.15~0.30MPa降到0.10~0.20 MPa,改善了出水水质,含油质量浓度平均<10 mg/L。     

Role of bed height and amount of dust on the efficiency of sound‐assisted fluidized bed filter/afterburner

A 40‐mm sound‐assisted fluidized bed filter/afterburner for hot gas clean‐up has been characterized in terms of bed saturation time, total amount of collected particles, fraction of fine particles permanently adhered on the coarse bed particles, and efficiency of using a regeneration strategy based on mechanical (attrition) and/or chemical (combustion) action. Experiments have been carried out at ambient temperature as well as at 850°C, with and without application of sound and varying bed height and amount of dust in the gas flow. The controversial effect of the application of sound: not only enhancement of particles interactions but also increase of fines permanently adhering on bed coarse particles is presented and discussed. A simplified model has been developed to obtain rough predictions of bed height which maximize fine particles capture, bed saturation time, total amount of particles collected in the bed, fraction of fine particles loading present as adhered particles on bed particles. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

Dyeing and printing wastewater treatment using a membrane bioreactor with a gravity drain

A laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) with a gravity drain was tested for dyeing and printing wastewater treatment from a wool mill. The MBR was operated with continuous permeate by gravity and without chemical cleaning for 135 days. Results showed that excellent effluent quality could meet the reuse water standard in China. The average concentrations of COD, BOD₅, turbidity and color in the effluent were 36.9 mg l⁻¹, 3.7 mg l⁻¹, 0.2 NTU and 21 dilution times (DT), respectively. The average removal rates of COD, BOD₅, turbidity and color were 80.3%, 95.0%, 99.3% and 58.7%, respectively. The membrane flux increased with increasing of aeration intensity, and its increasing rate was related to pressure-heads. The higher the pressure-head, the greater the impact of aeration intensity on membrane flux. Statistical analysis also showed that both the pressure-head and aeration intensity significantly affected membrane flux. Due to its compact design, simple operation and easy maintenance, MBR with a gravitational filtration system hs low energy consumption and is cost-effective to build and operate. If the life expectancy of the membrane is set for 3–4 years and the membrane flux is set at 15 l/m²·h, such a MBR would be very competitive.     

Experimental study of residence time,particle movement and bed depth profile in rotary kilns

Experiments were performed in a pilot scale rotary kiln with coal and coke particles to study their mean residence time, residence time distribution, bed depth profile and time spent at the bed surface. The influence of filling ratio on residence time was studied with a uniform bed depth in the kiln. Residence time distribution and bed depth profile measurements were performed in a kiln without end constriction, at different rotational speeds and different solid inputs. The residence time fraction corresponding to the passage of the particles at the bed surface was measured with a photographic study of the movement of a coloured particle. Various equations were tested to represent the experimental results. The equations of Kramers and Croockewit (1952) and Ronco (1965) were adequate to calculate mean residence times, while only the former could represent correctly the bed depth profile. An equation is proposed which turns out to be quite accurate in predicting the fraction of the residence time spent in the upper layer of the bed.