Hydrodynamics and reactor performance evaluation of a high flux gas‐solids circulating fluidized bed downer: Experimental study

Reactor performance of a high flux circulating fluidized bed (CFB) downer is studied under superficial gas velocities of 3–7 m/s with solids circulation rate up to 300 kg/m²s using ozone decomposition reaction. Results show that the reactant conversion in the downer is closely related to the hydrodynamics, with solids holdup being the most influential parameter on ozone decomposition. High degree of conversion is achieved at the downer entrance region due to strong gas‐solids interaction as well as higher solids holdup and reactant concentration. Ozone conversion increases with the increase of solids circulation rate and/or the decrease of superficial gas velocity. Overall conversion in the CFB downer is less than but very close to that in an ideal plug flow reactor indicating a good reactor performance in the downer because of the nearly “ideal” hydrodynamics in downer reactors. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3412–3423, 2014     

Flow development in a gas-solids downer fluidized bed

The development of gas and solids flow structure was studied in a 9.5 m high and 0.10 m diameter, gas-solids cocurrent downflow circulating fluidized bed (downer). Local solids concentration and particle velocity were measured using two separate optical fibre probes at different radial positions on several axial levels along the downer. The results show that the flow development is significantly influenced by the operating conditions. For most of the conditions under which the experiments were conducted, the gas-solids flow reaches its fully developed zone within 3 to 8 m away from the entrance. On the other hand, the development zone can extend as long as the downer itself, under certain conditions. When the solids circulation rate is over 100 kg/m²s, an increasing solids circulation rate largely extends the length of radial flow development. It is found that the flow developments in the core and at the wall are not quite simultaneous. For solids concentration, the core develops more quickly at low gas velocities and the wall region develops faster at high gas velocities. For particle velocity, higher gas velocity speeds up the development of the wall region but does not significantly affect the development of the core region. The wall region is much more sensitive to the change of superficial gas velocity than the core region. At high superficial gas velocities (> 7 m/s), a “semi-dead” region is observed in the fully developed zone adjacent to the wall where the dilute solids are moving at a very low velocity.     

下行床气固传质及反应特性的实验研究

以臭氧催化分解为模型反应,对气固并流下行循环流化床反应器中气固传质与反应特性进行了研究. 制备了臭氧分解催化剂,并以它为循环物料在内径0.09 m、高度8.2 m的下行床中测定了颗粒浓度分布和臭氧浓度分布. 实验结果表明,臭氧在加速段分解率在45%左右,约占总分解率的90%,其随颗粒循环量(Gs)的增加略有上升. 当Gs从2.77 kg/(m2×s)增加到6.58 kg/(m2×s)时,全床分解率从50%上升至55%. 建立了平推流的传质模型,给出了有效传质系数和操作参数的关联式.     

下行气固两相流与管内壁间的摩擦压降

在较宽的操作条件范围内系统测试了下行床床层压力降,获得气固两相流与管内壁间的摩擦压降,提出了下行气固两相流与管壁间摩擦压降的计算模型。结果表明,在下行床的充分发展段,气固两相流与管壁间的摩擦导致表观颗粒浓度显著小于真实颗粒浓度;当表观气速大于8 m·s^-1时,气固两相流与管壁间的摩擦压降接近甚至超过气固两相流重力产生的静压降。在采用压差法测试下行床中的平均颗粒浓度时,如忽略气固两相流与管壁间的摩擦,则可能导致显著的偏差。下行气固两相流与管内壁间的摩擦压降主要来自于颗粒与管壁间的摩擦。颗粒直径对气固两相流与管壁间摩擦压降的影响随着操作气速的提高逐渐减弱。采用提出的摩擦压降模型对表观颗粒浓度进行修正后,预测值与实验值吻合较好。     

Evaluation of downer reactor performance by catalytic ozone decomposition

Radial distribution profiles of ozone concentrations were measured along an 8.50 m high and 0.09 m inside diameter gas/solid co-current down-flow circulating fluidized bed (downer) to characterize the reactor performance. Tests were conducted under a series of operating conditions at room temperature and near atmospheric pressure, with FCC particles as the bed material. Results show that the concentration distribution of the ozone tracer gas correlates well with the flow structure of the downer. There is quite a uniform radial distribution of ozone concentrations in the core region of all tested axial sections in the fully developed region of the downer, except for the near-wall region where there is a sharp decrease in ozone concentration. And there exists a relatively significant non-uniform distribution in the entrance acceleration region of the downer.     

DEM MODELING AND SIMULATION OF A DOWN-FLOW CIRCULATING FLUIDIZED BED

A mathematical model based on the distinct element method (DEM) was developed to investigate the hydrodynamics in a gas-solid down-flow circulating fluidized bed reactor (downer). The models consist of the equations of particle motion and fluid motion. The contact force is calculated by using the analogy of a spring, dashpot, and friction slider. Simulation results show that the radial solids holdup and particle velocity profiles are uniform in the core region. Near the wall, the solids holdup is higher with lower particle velocity. An increase in the particle size decreases the solids holdup and increases the particle velocity. The solids holdup decreases with superficial gas velocity but increases with solids circulation rate. Particle velocity increases with gas velocity and solids circulation rate. The solids holdup and particle velocity are almost uniform along the height of the downer except near the distributor. The hydrodynamic behavior from this simulation showed trends similar to those of the experimental results. The results obtained from this model fit better with the experimental results than Kimm's and Bolkan's models do.     

A preliminary study into the local solids fluxes in a downer reactor

A non-isokinetic sampling method was used to study the effects of gas velocity, solids circulation rate and axial and radial positions on the local solids flux in a gas–solids downer fluidized bed. The radial profiles of solids flux are highly dependent on the axial position. The local solids flux is also dependent on the overall solids circulation rate but not dependent on the gas velocity. The solids flux profiles in the downer were also found to be quite different from those reported in the riser.     

Hydrodynamics of an annulus airlift reactor

The hydrodynamics of an annulus airlift reactor (AALR) was studied and compared with that of a slurry bubble column reactor (SBCR) with silica sands of 75-125 μm in size as solids, city tapping water as liquid phase, and air as gas phase in the present investigation. The effects of superficial gas velocity and solids concentration on gas holdup and solids distributions were investigated. The results showed that the local average gas holdup decreased along the column height, and the average gas holdup decreased with the increasing solids concentration, but this tendency became less at higher solids concentrations. It was found that the effect of superficial gas velocity on axial solids distribution was negligible over the gas velocity range investigated, as long as the solids in the column could be suspended. Increasing solids concentration led to flatter axial solids holdup profiles. The axial distributions of solids concentration and gas holdup in the AALR were much more uniform than those in the SBCR, and slurry circulation in the AALR damped the effects of increasing solids concentration on the hydrodynamics. These advantages of an AALR over a SBCR are especially important for some catalytic reaction processes in three-phase systems such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and methanol synthesis.     

流化床-提升管耦合反应器内固含率的轴向分布及流动发展

在耦合流化床反应器大型冷模实验装置上,考察了不同表观气速下FCC颗粒在耦合流化床内截面平均密度的轴向分布. 结果表明,反应器轴向固含率可分为底部流化床区域和上部提升管区域. 前者的密相区平均固含率随表观气速增大而减小;后者的平均固含率随表观气速Ug增大而增大,Ug<0.58 m/s时固含率分布均匀,Ug=0.70~1.04 m/s时提升管出口出现约束返混区(>8.62 m),Ug>1.16 m/s时提升管底部出现密度重整区(3.82~4.57 m)、加速平稳区(4.57~8.62 m)和出口返混区(>8.62 m). 确定了耦合反应器内提升管区域截面平均固含率的影响参数,并利用实验数据回归了平均固含率的轴向分布经验模型,计算值与实验值吻合较好.     

利用光导纤维表征并流下行流化床中颗粒聚凝体的动态特征(英文)

利用光导纤维来表征并流下行流化床中颗粒聚凝体的动态特征。下行床的直径为0.1m、床高10m,操作气速为3.5～10m·s-1,颗粒流率为50～200kg·m-2·s-1。所用颗粒为催化裂化FCC颗粒,直径67μm,密度为1500kg·m-3。研究中首先用灵敏度分析方法建立起确认颗粒聚凝体的最佳条件,由此从所测得的瞬时颗粒浓度数据来获得颗粒聚凝体的各种特性(频率、时间分率、存在时间及平均浓度)。研究发现颗粒聚凝体的性质明显地受到操作条件的影响(气体速度与颗粒流率)以及局部颗粒浓度的影响。颗粒聚凝体的性质亦沿着下行床的轴向与径向发生很大变化。在充分发展段,下行床中心比近壁处有着更强的形成颗粒聚凝体的趋势。靠近下行床的底部,颗粒聚凝体性质沿轴向分布的变化比较缓和。     

Experimental study of high-density gas-solids flow in a new coupled circulating fluidized bed

Experiments were carried out in a specially designed high-density coupled circulating fluidized bed system. Fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) particles (ρ_p=1300 kg/m³, d_p=69 μm) were used. When the solids circulation flux is 400 kg/m²·s, the apparent solids holdup exceeds 20% near the top of the riser A, and the volumetric solids fraction (apparent solids holdup) is larger than 5.2% in the fully developed region of the downer. Hence, a high particle suspension density covers the entire coupled CFB system. Under the high-density conditions, the primary air rate had a small influence on the solids circulation flux, while the secondary air rate had an important effect on it. The results indicate a particle acceleration region and a fully developed region were identified along the downer from the pressure gradient profiles. In the fully developed region of the downer, the volumetric solids fraction increases with increasing solids circulation flux or decreasing superficial gas velocity U₁.     

LOCAL HYDRODYNAMICS IN AN EXTERNAL LOOP AIRLIFT SLURRY REACTOR WITH AND WITHOUT A RESISTANCE-REGULATING ELEMENT

The hydrodynamic behavior of an external loop airlift slurry reactor (ALSR) with and without a resistance-regulating element was studied with a fiber optic probe and ultrasound Doppler velocimetry. The influences of the superficial gas velocity and solid holdup on the global gas holdup and radial profiles of the suspension circulation velocity in the downer and of gas holdup, bubble size, and bubble rise velocity in the riser were studied. Local measurements allow a better understanding of the flow behavior in the reactor and can be used for CFD modeling and validation. Experimental results show that the resistance-regulating element increases the gas holdup and decreases the suspension circulation velocity, indicating that an optimum design of the flow resistance is needed to obtain the maximum gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient for a specific superficial gas velocity. A high superficial gas velocity and low solid holdup are favorable for increased uniformity of the radial profile of the gas holdup and bubble rise velocity. Hydrodynamic models that predict the gas holdup and suspension circulation velocity were developed for an ALSR with and without a resistance-regulating element. Good agreement was obtained between measured and predicted values.     

Mass transfer and reaction performance of the downer and its hydrodynamic explanation

Catalytic decomposition of ozone was carried out in a 15‐m high, 90‐mm inner diameter downer reactor. Radial distributions of ozone concentration at different axial elevations under different operating conditions were measured. The results were explained from the flow structure experimental data and corresponding signal analysis in time domain and frequency domain. The aggregation status of solid particles, relative movement between the gas and solids, and the dynamic behaviour of clusters were considered to have a joint influence on the mass transfer and reaction process in the downer.     

LOCAL HYDRODYNAMICS IN AN EXTERNAL LOOP AIRLIFT SLURRY REACTOR WITH AND WITHOUT A RESISTANCE-REGULATING ELEMENT

The hydrodynamic behavior of an external loop airlift slurry reactor (ALSR) with and without a resistance-regulating element was studied with a fiber optic probe and ultrasound Doppler velocimetry. The influences of the superficial gas velocity and solid holdup on the global gas holdup and radial profiles of the suspension circulation velocity in the downer and of gas holdup, bubble size, and bubble rise velocity in the riser were studied. Local measurements allow a better understanding of the flow behavior in the reactor and can be used for CFD modeling and validation. Experimental results show that the resistance-regulating element increases the gas holdup and decreases the suspension circulation velocity, indicating that an optimum design of the flow resistance is needed to obtain the maximum gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient for a specific superficial gas velocity. A high superficial gas velocity and low solid holdup are favorable for increased uniformity of the radial profile of the gas holdup and bubble rise velocity. Hydrodynamic models that predict the gas holdup and suspension circulation velocity were developed for an ALSR with and without a resistance-regulating element. Good agreement was obtained between measured and predicted values.     

Modeling of the hydrodynamics of the fully developed region in a downer reactor

A mathematical model is developed to describe the hydrodynamics of the fully developed region in a downer reactor. The model is based on the energy-minimization and multi-scale (EMMS) principle. The influence of the friction coefficient, the solid flow rate and the superficial gas velocity on the flow pattern in the downer is simulated. The local solid concentration and gas/solid velocities are predicted. The model results show a good agreement with experimental data in literatures. In addition, cluster size and local slip velocity are discussed.     

Position and velocity of a large particle in a gas/solid riser using the radioactive particle tracking technique

The flow behavior of the solids phase in the fully developed region of a laboratory-scale circulating fluidized bed riser was studied using an assembly of sixteen NaI detectors to determine the position of a 500 μm radioactive particle, 100 times/s. The particle location was inferred from the number of γ-rays recorded by the assembly. The knowledge of the instantaneous positions enabled the determination of the instantaneous and mean velocity fields. Tests were conducted in a 0.082 m diameter, 7 m tall riser using 150 μm silica sand particles. Data were obtained at a gas superficial velocity of 4 m/s and solids mass fluxes from 23 to 75 kg/m²·s. Radial profiles of axial particle velocity showed that the solids velocity decreased with increasing solids circulation rates. Correspondingly, turbulent particle velocities and solids dispersion coefficient in the longitudinal direction were found to decrease as the solids circulation rate increased. The cross-sectional area where, on average, solids downflow took place, increased with increasing solids circulation rate.     

Radial gas mixing characteristics in a downer reactor

In a downer reactor (0.1 m-I.D.x3.5 m-high), the effects of gas velocity (1.6-4.5 m/s), solids circulation rate (0–40kg/m²s) and particle size (84, 164 Μm) on the gas mixing coefficient have been determined. The radial dispersion coefficient(D _r ) decreases and the radial Peclet number (Pe_r) increases as gas velocity increases. At lower gas velocities, D_r in the bed of particles is lower than that of gas flow only, but the reverse trend is observed at higher gas velocities. Gas mixing in the reactor of smaller particle size varies significantly with gas velocity, whereas gas mixing varies smoothly in the reactor of larger particle size. At lower gas velocities, D_r increases with increasing solids circulation rate (G_s), however, D_r decreases with increasing G_s at higher gas velocities. Based on the obtained D_r values, the downer reactor is found to be a good gas-solids contacting reactor having good radial gas mixing.     

气固流化床中声发射和流动模式关系

颗粒在气固流化床壁面区域（或局部空间区域）碰撞产生的声波能量反映了颗粒的碰撞速度和频率（活跃程度）,从中可以揭示流化床内颗粒的流动混合模式。通过在φ150mm流化床冷模装置中,对聚乙烯颗粒－空气体系进行流态化实验,运用声发射技术测得声能量沿气固流化床的轴向分布,继而获得了颗粒的流动模式,并发现其与颗粒粒径、表观气速和分布板形式密切相关。对于颗粒粒径为460 μm的聚乙烯颗粒,当表观气速在0.3～0.7 m·s^-1内,其对应的流动模式为带有滞留区的双循环流动模式。如果气速增大到0.8 m·s^-1以上时,流动模式将转化为无滞留区的单循环流动模式。而当颗粒平均粒径降为365μm,对应的双循环流动模式蜕化为单循环模式,壁面不存在滞留区。进一步发现,滞留区位置与静床高无关。研究同时发现,颗粒的流动模式和分布板形式密切相关,对于在多孔平板分布板下为单循环流动模式的小粒径颗粒,在锥帽式分布板下,则在稍高气速时表现为双循环流动模式。     

Bed-to-wall heat transfer in a downer reactor

The effects of superficial gas velocity (0.5 to 4.5 m/s), solid circulating rate (0 to 40 kg/m²·s), suspension density (0 to 19 kg/m³) and particle sizes (83, 103, 163, 236 μm) on the bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient have been determined in a downer reactor (0.1 m I. D. × 3.5 m high). Bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient increases with increasing suspension density. The heat transfer coefficient by gas convection played a significant role, especially at lower solid circulation rates or suspension densities and larger particle sizes. At a given particle suspension density in the downer reactor, the heat transfer coefficient increases with decreasing particle size. A model is proposed to predict the bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient in a downer reactor.     

连续内环流三相反应器局部流动特性

在φ200 mm×2500 mm连续内环流三相反应器内,考察了空气 水 玻璃珠体系反应器内局部流动参数随操作条件的变化规律。结果表明,导流筒内截面平均气含率随表观气速的增大而增大,较之气液两相流,在低固含率时,加入固体对气含率影响不明显,而在较高固含率下,气含率有明显降低,但固体再增加时对气含率变化影响不大。在较低表观气速下,进料浆速对导流筒内气含率轴向分布趋势有一定的影响,但在较高表观气速下影响不大,导流筒内的气含率大于环隙内的气含率且随气速增大差别更加明显,浆相连续有利于气相分散并增大环隙内的气含率。导流筒内循环浆速径向分布呈抛物状,中心高、近壁处低,受进料浆速和入口固含率影响都不大。浆相循环强度最低为20,高可达180。固含率轴、径向分布受表观气速和进料浆速的影响,固含率轴、径向分布基本均匀,随进料浆速增加,反应器内固含率降低。