Pyrolysis with partial combustion of oil shale fines in a spouted bed

Pyrolysis with partial combustion of oil shale fines from the Irati Formation in Brazil has been investigated in a 30 cm diameter spouted bed reactor. Experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure and temperatures between 450 and 600°C. The oi] shale particle size was less than 6.35 mm. Spouting gas temperatures ranged from 20 to 565°C. Three inlet gas pipe diameters and two spouted bed heights were studied. Operation of the process was found to be stable over a wide range of test conditions. Results are presented for oil and gas quality, efficiency of retorting and overall performance of the plant.     

Flow in the annulus of a bed of fine particles spouted with water

The flow in the annulus of a water spouted bed of glass particles (275 to 774 μm) was studied experimentally in a cylindrical half-column 50.8 mm in diameter. An axisymmetric model, which assumes Darcy flow in the annulus and uses the experimental spout pressure distribution, predicts the flow and pressure fields in the annulus. The substantial differences between this flowfield and that for coarse particle beds that are observed are caused by differences in the normalized interfacial pressure profile. The model predicts that both the fluid velocity and the normalized fluid velocity at the top of the annulus decrease as the particle size and bed height are reduced. Particles are observed to enter the spout primarily near the spout inlet in agreement with predictions of the axial spout voidage distribution. The residence time distribution of the fluid in the annulus is relatively broad and the measured residence times are about 25% higher than those calculated.     

Residence time distribution in spouted bed drying of maltodextrin solutions on a bed of inert particles

Residence time distributions (RTD) for aqueous maltodextrin solutions were determined in two kinds of spouted bed dryers: (1) conventional spouted bed (CSB) 0.305 m diameter with a bed of polypropylene beads and (2) spout‐fluid bed 0.143 m diameter with draft tube submerged in a bed of FEP® pellets (S‐FBDT). RTD, mean residence time t_m, and spread of the distribution σ², were determined at different drying temperatures, spouting velocities, bed depths, spraying pressures, and feed concentrations. Average values of t_m and σ² were 6.5 min and 26.6 min² for the CSB and 6.9 min and 36 min² for the S‐FBDT, respectively, for all operating conditions except spraying pressure. RTD curves were well represented by the response of an ideal stirred tank with a superimposed bypass of 15% on average for the CSB and 7% on average for the S‐FBDT dryer for all operating conditions. Increase in spraying pressure produced a reduction of t_m and an increase in the bypass fraction of the product in both dryers. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

The maximum spoutable bed heights of fine particles spouted with air

The maximum spoutable bed heights of systems of fine glass spheres spouted with air are studied in flat based semi circular columns of 80 and 152.4 mm diameters using particles with average diameters ranging from 0.3 to 1.3 mm. New correlations are proposed to predict the maximum spoutable bed heights of air spouted fine particle systems. It is concluded that the influence of the column diameter on the maximum spoutable bed height is significantly decreased compared to coarse particle systems and that it further varies with particle size within the fine particle spouting regime. Data reported in the literature agree with the proposed correlations.     

Batch and continuous spouted bed drying of cereal grains: The thermal equilibrium model

A complete set of equations with no adjustable parameters are written for numerically predicting the variation of grain temperature and moisture content with time for batch drying of well mixed deep beds of three cereal grains, as well as the exit grain and air moisture contents and temperatures for continuous drying. Unlike previous studies, the surface moisture content of the grains is not assumed constant. Agreement with both batch and continuous spouted bed drying data from the literature is good, in the continuous case especially when the assumed exit age distribution of the isothermal bed solids is specific to spouting.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions from fluidized bed combustion of coal

The most volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons remaining in the flue gas leaving cyclones placed at the exit of a fluidized bed coal combustor and classified by the US EPA as priority pollutants were trapped on filters and adsorbents, dissolved in dimethylformamide and analysed by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. The results are discussed.     

Effect of interparticle forces on the conical spouted bed behavior of wet particles with size distribution

This paper aims to analyze air-solid flow behavior in conical spouted beds composed of glass bead mixtures coated by glycerol. Four mixtures of glass beads are used as the solid phase. Although these mixtures have the same mean Sauter diameter, each one is characterized by a different size distribution function (mono-sized; flat, Gaussian or binary size distribution). When glycerol is added to the bed of these particles, which are spouted by air, the gas-solid flow characteristics are changed due to the growth of interparticle forces; however, the trends of these changes are affected by the glass bead mixture type as well as by the concentration of glycerol. For beds of mono-sized particles, the minimum spouting velocity is maintained almost unchanged as the glycerol concentration rises; while, for beds of inert particle mixtures, this velocity increases, becoming greater for flat and binary size distribution particles. Conversely, the minimum spouting pressure drop decreases as the glycerol concentration rises for all beds of particles used. Based on theoretical prediction of interparticle forces, it is shown that these changes in the minimum spouting conditions can be explained by the magnitude of these forces.     

Experimental investigation of solid particles flow in a conical spouted bed using radioactive particle tracking

Solid particles flow in a conical spouted bed is characterized by radioactive particle tracking. The influence of operating conditions on key parameters of this flow is evaluated and discussed: the morphology of the solid bed is not strongly influenced by the forces exerted by the gas on the solid particles, but rather by geometrical considerations; the particles spend approximately 8% of their time in the spout in all experiments; it is the force exerted on the solid particles by the gas that directly controls the volumetric flow rate between adjacent regions, and not the amount of particles in the bed; as U/U_ms increases, the volume of solid particles in the annulus decreases, the volume of solid particles in the fountain increases and the volume of solid particles in the spout remains constant. Correlations to predict key flow parameters as functions of operating conditions are also established and discussed. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 26–37, 2016     

Drying of industrial sludge waste in a conical spouted bed dryer. Effect of air temperature and air velocity

To determine the performance of a conical spouted bed dryer for the drying of sludge waste, an experimental study of drying in a spouted bed regime was performed under different experimental conditions. The drying performance was determined based on the time evolution of solid moisture content, and the influence of operating conditions (inlet air temperature, air flow rate, and bed mass) on the drying rate of sludge waste in spouted beds of a conical geometry was analyzed.     

Aerodynamics and heat transfer during coating of tablets in two-dimensional spouted bed

The two-dimensional spouted bed has been pointed out in recent research works as an improved configuration of spouted beds. The main advantages in relation to the conventional spouted beds are the easy construction and scale-up. In this work we begin the study of coating of tablets in two-dimensional spouted beds. An experimental system was constructed and the data obtained were used to determine the values of maximum pressure drop, minimum spout flowrate and gas-to-particle heat transfer coefficient, for 36 process conditions. The experimental results have been correlated with process and geometrical parameters.     

Effect of cohesive forces on fluidized and spouted beds of wet particles

Fluid beds are now being used for processing pasty materials including production of fine powders through drying suspensions in beds of inert particles; coating of tablets or pellets; granulation, etc. In such processes, the fluid bed operation becomes more complex due to the development of cohesive forces resulting from liquid bridges between particles. Such forces can affect gas and solids flow leading to uncontrollable particle agglomeration and to poor gas–solid contact. This work is aimed at analyzing and quantifying the differences of flow behavior in fluidized and spouted beds of wet and dry particles. Experimentally, surface stickiness is induced by application of metered amounts of glycerol. Based on pressure drop vs. fluid flow rate curves, solids circulation rates and bed porosity variations, two types of particle–particle interaction forces are identified and their effect on air–solid flow is quantified as a function of glycerol concentration. Implications of these results in coating, granulation and drying of suspensions in these beds are also discussed.     

Minimum fluid flowrate,pressure drop and stability of a conical spouted bed

A model for calculating the minimum spouting flowrate and pressure drop in a conical spouted bed has been developed and described in our previous paper (Had?ismajlovi et al., 1986). In the present work, this model was examined at a wider range of experimental conditions and it was found that measured and predicted values of the minimum spouting flowrate and pressure drop differed by about 10.3% and 20.0%, respectively. It is shown that the spouted bed in a conical column is stable when the inlet tube diameter is less than 25 particle diameters.     

Organic emissions in coal combustion in relation to coal structure and combustion temperature

The pulsed combustion of coal has been studied in a small fluidized-bed reactor. The effect of combustion temperature and coal rank on the organic composition of the off-gas was investigated. Results are presented for the combustion of an anthracite, a medium-volatile bituminous coal and a high-volatile bituminous coal at 700, 800 and 900°C. The analytical techniques used include on-line FT-i.r., O₂ monitoring, FID and off-line g.c.-m.s. using Tenax as adsorbent. About 120 hydrocarbons were found, of which over 80% have been identified. Overall combustion characteristics such as oxygen consumption, total amount of unburned hydrocarbons and swelling properties of the coal have been related to the composition of the organic substances in the off-gas. The distribution of the polycyclic aromatics, from benzene to chrysene, and of alkylated derivatives is discussed in detail. Oxygen-containing compounds have also been analysed, although detailed discussion would be premature.     

Packed bed combustion of char particles: experiments and an ash model

This paper presents the results of a series of experiments on the packed bed combustion of coke particles, including temperature and gas concentration profiles in the bed and measurements of particle size, void fraction and sphericity on both fuel and ash. An earlier numerical model is extended to include the effects of ash on the bed void fraction and other properties as well as on heat conduction within the bed and heat and mass transfer between particulate and gas. The model is shown to give good agreement with experimental data. It is demonstrated that the physical properties of ash—particle size, void, and sphericity—can have a considerable influence on other bed processes.     

高密度液固循环流化床流动特性研究及数值模拟

在φ80 mm×8000 mm的液固循环流化床提升管中,利用实心玻璃珠和常温水,采用实验和数值模拟相结合的方法对高密度液固循环流化床的流动特性进行了考察。实验发现,高密度液固提升管中,颗粒固含率和颗粒速度径向分布均为抛物线分布,轴向平均固含率分布总体上为下浓上稀的波动形式分布,颗粒在提升管中的流动表现出加速-减速-再加速直至充分发展的过程。这种分布特征与较高颗粒浓度、较高表观液速和颗粒循环速率及喷管式液体分布器的影响有关。液固提升管中固体颗粒的停留时间分布曲线均为尖而窄、较对称且没有明显拖尾的单峰分布,这表明颗粒基本是以弥散颗粒形式存在,颗粒停留时间分布较为均匀。通过将数值模拟结果与实验结果进行比较发现,模拟值与实验值吻合较好,说明所建立的数学模型较为合理,进一步通过数值模拟实验对颗粒密度和颗粒粒径对流动特性的影响规律进行了考察。     

Evaluation of flow regimes in a semi‐cylindrical spouted bed through statistical,mutual information,spectral and Hurst's analysis

Hydrodynamic studies were conducted in a semi‐cylindrical spouted bed column of diameter 150 mm, height 1000 mm, conical base included angle of 60° and inlet orifice diameter 25 mm. Pressure transducers at several axial positions were used to obtain pressure fluctuation time series with 1.2 and 2.4 mm glass beads at U/U_ms from 0.3 to 1.6, and static bed depths from 150 to 600 mm. The conditions covered several flow regimes (fixed bed, incipient spouting, stable spouting, pulsating spouting, slugging, bubble spouting and fluidization). Images of the system dynamics were also acquired through the transparent walls with a digital camera. The data were analyzed via statistical, mutual information theory, spectral and Hurst's Rescaled Range methods to assess the potential of these methods to characterize the spouting quality. The results indicate that these methods have potential for monitoring spouted bed operation.     

Residence Time Distributions in Staged Spouted Beds

A novel design of a multi‐staged, continuous flow spouted bed, suitable for counter‐current, cross‐current, and fed‐batch gas‐solid contacting is developed. Single and three‐stage conter‐flow units are studied, the residence time distributions (RTD's) of the solids therein are measured and two compartmental models are developed to fit this family of RTD's. The first (two‐parameter) model is satisfactory for the single stage units, and three‐stage units at high gas flow rates. The second (three‐parameter) model describes each stage as two CSTVs in parallel with a PFV in series. It provides better agreement with experimental data in the three‐stage case.     

Investigations on heat transfer and hydrodynamics under pyrolysis conditions of a pilot-plant draft tube conical spouted bed reactor

This paper describes the hydrodynamic and heat transfer performance of a pilot-plant scale conical spouted bed reactor designed for the pyrolysis of biomass wastes. The spouted bed reactor is the core of a fast pyrolysis pilot plant with continuous biomass feed of up to 25 kg/h, located at the Ikerlan-IK4 facilities.The aim of this paper is to obtain a deeper understanding of the spouted bed reactor performance at pyrolysis temperatures, in order to operate under stable conditions, improve the heat transfer rate in the reactor and minimize energy requirements. The influence of temperature on conical spouted bed hydrodynamics has been studied and wall-to-bed and bed-to-surface heat transfer coefficients have been determined.     

Demonstration of a control system for combustion of lean hydrocarbon emissions in a reverse flow reactor

In this work, the performance of a simple logic-based controller for a reverse flow reactor (RFR) has been tested experimentally. The controller is a hybrid system using the inside reactor temperature as the controlled variable, and the switch of the flow direction as the manipulated variable. Three different control logic rules (depending on the point selected to measure the inside reactor temperature) have been compared for the catalytic combustion of methane in a bench-scale RFR unit. A procedure for tuning the controllers was established. The controller that measures the temperature in the middle of the reactor showed the best performance, as it provided complete methane conversion with high capacity to overcome both low and high feed concentration disturbances.