INVESTIGATIONS OF THE BUBBLE PHASE BEHAVIOR IN A HIGH TEMPERATURE FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR WITH COALCOMBUSTION

The properties of bubbles in a bench-scale fluidized bed reactor, 30 cm in diameter, during coal combustion were determined by means of a newly developed cooled bubble probe and a data processing system at temperatures up to 850°C and fluidization indexes up to 10 in axial and radial positions in the bed. The fluidization index above 4 and the temperature have only slight effect on the bubble properties. Their variation along the height above the gas distributor is dominant.

Oxygen and Co₂-concentration profiles were measured in the bed and in the freeboard, and the o₂-profiles were calculated by means of measured bubble data and bubble models. A comparison of measured and calculated o₂-profiles indicates that the mass transfer rates between the emulsion and bubble phases are larger than the ones calculated by the models.     

The fragmentation of coal particles during the coal combustion in a fluidized bed

This paper presents an experimental method for studying the fragmentation of coal particles during coal combustion in a fluidized bed and the quantitative fragmentation indexes of 10 typical Chinese coal ranks. The influences of a variety of factors such as the bed temperature, the size of coal particles, the coal rank and the fluidizing medium on the fragmentation index of coal particles are also studied. The research results show that the main reason for the fragmentation of coal particles is the primary fragmentation, and that the volatile matter can drastically influence the degree of fragmentation of coal particles.     

Measurements of dioxin emissions during co-firing in a fluidised bed

The emissions of dioxins could be considerable when fuels with high chlorine content are used, particularly in fluidised beds due to constraints to use temperatures in the range 800-900 °C for other considerations. However, mixing of fuels with different characteristics may lead to a reduction in dioxin emissions. Studies are currently being undertaken at the above-mentioned department in mixing fuels of varying chlorine and sulphur contents to monitor the emissions of dioxins both in the gas and solid phases. Furthermore, the influence of certain elements like Cu in the ash in the emissions of dioxins is also studied to verify the catalytic effect.The INETI pilot-scale test facility is used for the combustion work. Two different coals, namely Colombian and Polish, are used as the base fuel. The supplementary fuels for co-firing include MBM and straw pellets. The combustion temperature is maintained at about 800-830 °C range without any limestone addition. The residence time of over 2 s is respected.Results obtained by far suggest that the presence of sulphur in both fuels have a very strong effect on the eventual emissions of dioxins and the synergy regarding to reduce the dioxins below the levels permitted is possible by mixing fuels based on their characteristics. The paper reports the results obtained and evaluates the effect of fuel nature and operating conditions on the emissions of dioxins.     

Model development and validation: Co-combustion of residual char, gases and volatile fuels in the fast fluidized combustion chamber of a dual fluidized bed biomass gasifier

A one-dimensional steady state model has been developed for the combustion reactor of a dual fluidized bed biomass steam gasification system. The combustion reactor is operated as fast fluidized bed (riser) with staged air introduction (bottom, primary and secondary air). The main fuel i.e., residual biomass char (from the gasifier), is introduced together with the circulating bed material at the bottom of the riser. The riser is divided into two zones: bottom zone (modelled according to modified two phase theory) and upper zone (modelled with core-annulus approach). The model consists of sub-model for bed hydrodynamic, conversion and conservation. Biomass char is assumed to be a homogeneous matrix of C, H and O and is modelled as partially volatile fuel. The exit gas composition and the temperature profile predicted by the model are in good agreement with the measured value.     

流化床冷模布风板数值模拟研究

利用计算流体动力学(CFD)软件包fluent,研究流化床反应器中的气流通过冷模布风板时压降过大的问题。采用正交数值模拟仿真实验对不同的开孔形式和不同的开孔直径进行研究,分析了流化床内的速度场、压力场,确定出:(1)布风板开孔直径越小,压降越大,但流化床内的速度场越容易达到稳定;(2)布风板中心处尽量不要开孔;(3)布风板开孔直径相同时,排列方式为等边三角形比正方形时压降更小。     

Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst for the combustion of methane in a fluidized bed reactor

The applicability of a catalyst based on copper dispersed on γ-Al₂O₃ spheres (1 mm diameter) for fluidized bed catalytic combustion of methane has been assessed. Catalyst properties have been determined by physico-chemical characterization techniques and fixed bed activity tests revealing the presence of a surface CuAl₂O₄ spinel phase, still active and stable in methane combustion after repeated thermal ageing treatments at 800 °C. Methane catalytic combustion experiments have been performed in a 100 mm premixed fluidized bed reactor under lean conditions (0.15–3% inlet methane concentration), showing that complete CH₄ conversion can be attained below 700 °C in a fluidized bed of 1 mm solids with a gas superficial velocity about twice the incipient fluidization velocity.     

Long-term integrity testing of spray-dried particles in a 10-kW chemical-looping combustor using natural gas as fuel

Chemical-looping combustion, CLC, is a combustion concept with inherent separation of CO₂. The fuel and combustion air are kept apart by using an oxygen carrier consisting of metal oxide. The oxygen carriers used in this study were prepared from commercially available raw materials by spray-drying. The aim of the study was to subject the particles to long-term operation (>1000 h) with fuel and study changes in particles, with respect to reactivity and physical characteristics. The experiments were carried out in a 10-kW chemical-looping combustor operating with natural gas as fuel. 1016 h of fuel operation were achieved. The first 405 h were accomplished using a single batch of NiO/NiAl₂O₄-particles. The last 611 h were achieved using a 50/50_mass-mixture of (i) particles used for 405 h, and (ii) a second batch of particles similar in composition to the first batch, but with an MgO additive. Thus, at the conclusion of the test series, approximately half of the particles in the reactor system had been subjected to >1000 h of chemical-looping combustion. The reason for mixing the two batches was to improve the fuel conversion. Fuel conversion was better with the mixture of the two oxygen carriers than it was using only the batch of NiO/NiAl₂O₄-particles. The CO fraction was slightly above the equilibrium fraction at all temperatures. Using the oxygen carrier mixture, the methane fraction was typically 0.4-1% and the combustion efficiency was around 98%. The loss of fines decreased slowly throughout the test period, although the largest decrease was seen during the first 100 h. An estimated particle lifetime of 33 000 h was calculated from the loss of fines. No decrease in reactivity was seen during the test period.     

AERODYNAMICALLY-DRIVEN CONDENSATE LAYER THICKNESS DISTRIBUTIONS ON ISOTHERMAL CYLINDRICAL SURFACES†

A simple yet rather general mathematical model is presented for predicting the distribution of condensate layer thickness when aerodynamic shear is the dominant mechanism of liquid flow along the surface. The Newtonian condensate film is treated using well-known “thin layer” (lubrication theory) approximations, and condensate supply is taken to be the result of either convective-diffusion (Sc = 0(1) or Sc ? 1), or inertial impaction. Illustrative calculations of the angular distribution of steady-state condensate layer thickness on a circular cylinder in a high Reynolds number crossflow (Re = 10⁵) reveal the consequences of alternate condensate arrival mechanisms and the existence of thicker reverse-flow films behind the position of gas boundary layer separation. However, separation points are singular points in the present theory, which deliberately neglects body-force and surface tension phenomena. The present formulation is readily generalized to include transient liquid layer flows on non-circular objects of variable surface temperature, as encountered in turbine blade materials testing or operation.     

MASS TRANSFER RELATIONSHIPS IN FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTORS

It is proposed that the transfer of oxygen from the bulk phase to the surface of a burning carbon particle immersed in a fluidized bed of incombustible particles can be characterized by the transfer associated with the interparticulate gas flow enhanced by the fluctuations in the gaseous environment around the burning particle. The enhancement is attributed to the movement of bubbles in the vicinity of the carbon particle and is predicted by a semi-empirical function of the bubble frequency. The resulting expression is incorporated in a recently proposed unsteady-state model for mass transfer (La Nauze et al., Chem. Eng. Sci., 39, 1623-1633 (1984)rpar; The new formulation correctly predicts the order and trends for the mass transfer coefficient for petroleum coke burning in a bed of sand fluidized by air over a wide range of conditions. In order to test the validity of the model, experiments have been performed using a helium/oxygen gas mixture instead of air. The model successfully predicts the mass transfer coefficient for this situation.     

Fluid dynamic simulation in a chemical looping combustion with two interconnected fluidized beds

Flow behavior of gas and particles is simulated in a 2-D chemical-looping combustion (CLC) process with two interconnected fluidized beds. A Eulerian continuum two-fluid model is applied for both the gas phase and the solid phase. Gas turbulence is modeled by using a k-ε turbulent model. The kinetic stress is modeled using the kinetic theory of granular flow, while the friction stress is from the combination of the normal frictional stress model proposed by Johnson and Jackson (1987) and the frictional shear viscosity model proposed by Schaeffer (1987) to account for strain rate fluctuations and slow relaxation of the assembly to the yield surface. Instantaneous and local velocity, concentration of particles and granular temperature are obtained. Predicted time-averaged particle concentrations and velocities reflect the classical core-annular flow structure in the air reactor. Flow behavior of bubbles is predicted in the fuel reactor and pot-seal. Computed leakage qualitatively agrees with experimental data in the fuel reactor and pot-seal.     

Modeling the temperature in coal char particle during fluidized bed combustion

The temperatures of a coal char particle in hot bubbling fluidized bed (FB) were analyzed by a model of combustion. The unsteady model includes phenomena of heat and mass transfer through a porous char particle, as well as heterogeneous reaction at the interior char surface and homogeneous reaction in the pores. The parametric analysis of the model has shown that above 550 °C combustion occurs under the regime limited by diffusion. The experimental results of temperature measurements by thermocouple in the particle center during FB combustion at temperatures in the range 590-710 °C were compared with the model predictions. Two coals of different rank were used: lignite and brown coal, with particle size in the range 5-10 mm. The comparisons have shown that the model can adequately predict the histories of temperatures in char particles during combustion in FB. In the first order, the model predicts the influence of the particle size, coal rank (via porosity), and oxygen concentration in its surroundings.     

Alkaline injection technology: Field demonstration

In December 2001, 2225 tonnes of fluidized bed combustion (FBC) ash were injected into an abandoned coal mine in eastern Oklahoma. Post-injection monitoring continued for 24 months, during which the mine system appeared to be reestablishing equilibrium with CO₂ in the mine headspace. Alkalinity and pH gradually increased, and as of December 2003 were roughly 65 ppm and 7.3, respectively. Metal concentrations were still significantly lower than pre-injection levels, but iron and manganese concentrations had increased from non-detect levels shortly after injection to roughly 30 ppm and 1.25 ppm, respectively. Aluminum, nickel, and zinc were less than pre-injection concentrations and did not appear to be increasing (roughly <PQL, 0.02 ppm, and 0.1 ppm, respectively). Arsenic and boron were not identified in concentrations that were of concern for protecting freshwater aquatic communities; however, selenium was well above the criterion continuous concentration and the maximum contaminant level. There were obvious improvements observed in the receiving environment—benthic habitat recovery and the return of fish species. However, additional monitoring is needed to determine the duration of the treatment and to evaluate the applicability of the treatment technology.     

ARGG催化裂化装置辅助燃烧室存在的问题及解决方式

介绍了辅助燃烧室的作用,辅助燃烧室容易出现的问题和异常情况下主风机停机主要处理步骤,了解主风机因各种事故造成停机出现的问题,通过对齐化集团炼油厂催化车间ARCG重油裂解装置辅助燃烧室的改造,解决了因催化剂倒流塞满辅助燃烧室,主风恢复时因阻力过大,不能及时恢复生产,避免了生产停车的事故的发生.     

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.     

离心流化床干燥器的流体力学及传热性能

以９种颗粒物料为研究对象,找出了影响离心流态化干燥系统的流体力学及传热性能的主要因素,回归得到了流体力学及传热的无因次准数关联式,为进一步研究此设备的干燥性能打下了基础。     

Solids entrainment into gas, liquid, and gas-liquid spray jets in fluidized beds

The injection of liquid into a fluidized bed is a crucial step in many processes such as fluid coking, fluid catalytic cracking, or gas-phase polymerization, whose performance greatly depends on good and rapid contact between the injected liquid and the fluidized particles. The liquid spray, created by two-phase (gas-liquid) nozzles, forms a jet, i.e. a gas-rich cavity within the fluidized bed. Past studies have shown that good liquid-solid contact requires a large entrainment rate of particles into the jet, followed by intensive mixing of liquid droplets and entrained particles within the jet. The objective of this study is the experimental measurement of solids entrainment into spray jets. The specific application of interest is the enhancement of solids entrainment under conditions relevant to the fluid coking process.A novel and accurate experimental technique has been developed to measure the solids entrainment from a fluidized bed into two-phase gas-liquid jets, gas jets and liquid jets. The effects of operating conditions of the nozzle (sonic versus subsonic) and of the fluidized bed on the solids entrainment have been investigated. The differences between the mechanisms of solids entrainment for two-phase gas-liquid, gas and liquid jets have been analyzed.This experimental tool has been applied to the design and testing of a mixing chamber consisting of a cylindrical tube placed at a certain distance downstream of the nozzle tip, resulting in a confined, turbulent jet with enhanced liquid-solid mixing properties.     

Modelling and experimental investigation of devolatilizing wood in a fluidized bed combustor

A two-dimensional model is developed for the determination of devolatilization time and char yield of cylindrical wood particles in a bubbling fluidized bed combustor. By using the concept of shape factor, the model is extended to particles of cuboid shape. The model prediction of the devolatilization time agrees with the measured data (present and those reported in the literature) for cylindrical and cuboidal shaped particles within ±20% while the char yield is predicted within ±17%. Influence of some important parameters namely, thermal diffusivity, external heat transfer coefficient and shrinkage, on the devolatilization time and char yield are studied. Thermal diffusivity shows noticeable influence on devolatilization time. The external heat transfer coefficient shows little influence beyond a value of 300 W/(m² K). However particle shrinkage shows negligible effect on the devolatilization time but has a significant influence on the char yield.