Application of discrete element method simulation for studying fluidization of nanoparticle agglomerates

The usefulness of discrete element method simulation for studying fluidization of nanoparticle agglomerates is explored. Nanoparticle agglomerates were simulated by using solid particles of equivalent sizes and densities. Validity of the present simulation was assessed through comparisons of simulation results and experimental observations of bed expansion, characteristic fluidization behaviour, and dense‐bed settling. The simulation was then used to investigate initial bed expansion and bed uniformity under particulate fluidization conditions. The role of inter‐agglomerate interparticle force in fluidization of nanoparticle agglomerates was examined. A stability analysis originally developed for addressing the transition from particulate to bubbling fluidization for conventional particles was used for predicting the start of bubbling in fluidized beds of nanoparticle agglomerates.     

粘附性颗粒流态化研究进展

主要阐述了粘附性颗粒流态化特性（初始流化速度、床膨胀、塌落）及聚团流化过程,提出了粘附性颗粒流态化的机理是聚团流化．并对近年来国内外在预测聚团大小、床层结构模型、改善粘附性颗粒流化性能方面的研究进展进行了总结．     

PVC类废塑料在冷态流化床中流化行为的研究

在Φ50 mm×800 mm圆柱体的冷态流化床反应器中,对PVC类废塑料、石英砂及其混合物的流化特性进行了研究。研究了PVC颗粒粒径与混合物料中PVC质量分数对混合物料的流化特性的影响规律,得到指导热态实验的关键参数。实验结果表明,PVC颗粒粒径与混合物料中PVC质量分数会影响混合物料的最小流化速度,也影响PVC颗粒与石英砂混合的均匀度。混合物料中PVC的质量分数越小,其最小流化速度就越小,混合物料也越容易实现充分混合;PVC颗粒为Geldart B类颗粒,但由于形状不规则,黏性力大,塌落特性明显,流化性能较差,显示出C类颗粒的流化特性,同时实际的最小流化速度要大于理论最小流化速度。PVC与石英砂混合物料冷态流化行为的研究结果为热态流化床降解PVC颗粒提供了基础数据和实践依据。     

Onset of an innovative gasless fluidized bed—comparative study on the fluidization of fine powders in a rotating drum and a traditional fluidized bed

Geldart group C powders were found to be fluidized in rotating drums without requiring any external fluidizing gas. As a result, a rotating drum was proposed as a new gasless fluidized bed in contrast to a traditional fluidized bed, leading to a considerable amount of energy savings. In addition, the fluidization qualities of a series of Geldart group C powders were found to be further improved with the assistance of drum rotation because of the shearing movement among particles that eliminates channeling and cracks and possibly also breaks agglomerates. There is potential for the new gasless fluidized bed to replace some traditional fluidized beds where the fluidizing gas is not used as a reactant.In the gasless fluidized bed, a boundary layer of compacted powder adjacent to the drum wall was observed. The powder in this layer is carried up to the freeboard and then falls back to the powder bed, forming a powder circulation in the drum. The circulating powder leads to a circulation of internal gas in the drum, which essentially acts as fluidizing gas to realize the fluidization of Geldart C powders in the drum. In contrast to the fluidization of Geldart C powders, Geldart groups B and D powders show cascading and cataracting motions instead in the rotating drum due to their requirement of higher fluidization gas velocities. Geldart group A powders experience a transition of powder behavior between Geldart group B–D powders and C powders.     

气-固微型流化床压降特性及最小流化速度的实验研究

在内径3～20 mm的4个气-固微型流化床中,分别考察了A类和B类两种类型颗粒的流化特性,同时研究了床几何结构、操作条件、物相性质等各因素对其最小流化速度的影响.结果 表明,气-固微型流化床中的床层压降特性与颗粒类型密切相关,不同的流动状态下两种类型颗粒的流动特性存在显著地差异.在固定床阶段,与B类颗粒相比,A类颗粒与...     

原生纳米级颗粒的聚团散式流态化

在内径为 35mm的小型玻璃流化床中考察了平均原生粒径为 16nm的SiO₂ 颗粒的流化行为 .实验发现 :当操作气速远远超过原生纳米颗粒的最小流化气速时 ,这种超细颗粒可以通过自团聚实现稳定、均匀的散式流化 ,并可获得比GeldartA类颗粒更高的床层膨胀比和更宽的散式操作区 .由于原生纳米级SiO₂ 颗粒在流化时形成的团聚物具有较大的粒径和很小的密度 ,使得该气固体系的流化行为与液固体系有许多相似之处 ,该过程对于研究气固流态化的散式化具有重要意义     

An adhesive CFD‐DEM model for simulating nanoparticle agglomerate fluidization

Nanoparticles are fluidized as agglomerates with hierarchical fractal structures. In this study, we model nanoparticle fluidization by assuming the simple agglomerates as the discrete element in an adhesive (Computational Fluid Dynamics—Discrete Element Modelling) CFD‐DEM model. The simple agglomerates, which are the building blocks of the larger complex agglomerates, are represented by cohesive and plastic particles. It is shown that both the particle contact model and drag force interaction in the conventional CFD‐DEM model need modification for properly simulating a fluidized bed of nanoparticle agglomerates. The model is tested for different cases, including the normal impact, angle of repose (AOR), and fluidization of nanoparticle agglomerates, represented by the particles with the equivalent material properties. It shows that increasing the particle adhesion increases the critical stick velocity, angle of repose, and leads from uniform fluidization to defluidization. The particle adhesion, bulk properties, and fluidization can be linked to each other by the current adhesive CFD‐DEM model. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2259–2270, 2016     

液固和气液固微型流态化研究进展

在百年流态化的研究过程中,涉及到直径不同的流化床。但是,多以流化床的大型化为研究目标,对微型流化床及其本身特性的研究很少。作为专门处理固体颗粒的流态化单元过程,其装置的微型化将兼具微通道反应器和宏观流化床各自的优点,是流态化研究的重要方向。鉴于气固微型流化床已有全面的国内外进展综述,本文仅对液固和气液固微型流化床的国内外研究进展进行分析。结论性内容包括：液固微型流化床床径减小,壁面效应增强,最小流化液速实验值大于Ergun公式计算值;需对描述液固均匀膨胀流化规律的Richardson-Zaki方程加以修正。气液固微型流化床内存在4种典型流型：半流化、弹状流、分散鼓泡流和液体输送流;由于床径减小,出现半流化状态,依据压降表观液速关系曲线等无法确定最小流化液速;气液固微型流化床的反应性能得以有效提升;最后给出了进一步研究的方向,以期为后续研究提供参考。     

Experimental study on fluidization of fine powders in rotating drums with various wall friction and baffled rotating drums

Fine powders were found to be fluidized in a rotating drum by internal cycling gas by the drum rotation. It is essentially a fluidized bed without requiring any external fluidizing gas. Such a rotating drum can be regarded as a new gasless fluidized bed for fine powders in contrast to a traditional fluidized bed, possibly leading to a considerable amount of energy savings. In addition, the fluidization quality of fine powders was found to be further improved with the assistance of drum rotation because of the shearing movement among particles that eliminates channeling and cracks and possibly also breaks agglomerates. Five regimes were identified in the rotating drum including slipping, avalanching-sliding, aerated, fluidization and re-compacted regimes. It was also found that drum wall friction plays an important role to fluidize fine powders because the friction carries particles to the freeboard, leading to gas cycling that fluidizes the powders. As well, three types of specially designed baffles were utilized to promote powder fluidization in rotating drums. These baffles effectively bring an early onset of all the regimes in rotating drums by reducing powder-wall slipping, carrying particles and bringing additional gas to the powders.     

Prediction of minimum fluidization velocity for vibrated fluidized bed

The prediction of minimum fluidization velocity for vibrated fluidized bed was performed. The Geldart group A and C particles were used as the fluidizing particles. The method based on Ergun equation was used to predict the minimum fluidization velocity. The calculated results were compared with the experimental data.The calculated results of minimum fluidization velocity are in good agreement with experimental data for Geldart group A particles. For group C particles, the difference between the calculated results and experimental data is large because of the formation of agglomerates. In this case, the determination of agglomerate diameter is considered to be necessary to predict the minimum fluidization velocity.     

Granulation time in fluidized bed granulators

Size enlargement of particles in fluidized bed granulation involves mixing of particles with a binder liquid to form larger wet granules and drying them to form dry granules. Identification of the time for completion of granulation process is critical as further fluidization of dry granules is providing extra energy for their attrition. Monitoring the bed pressure drop and bed temperature of a batch fluidized bed granulator with time can provide information on the time for completion of the granulation process. Experimental observations on granulation time and size of granules in a lab-scale batch fluidized bed granulator are presented. Model based equations are developed for the estimation of granulation time and size of granules.     

纳米SiO2在添加磁性大颗粒磁场流化床中的流态化

研究了纳米SiO2在添加磁性大颗粒磁场流化床中的流化性能,实验中通过测量其床层膨胀曲线、床层压降曲线以及塌落曲线表明:磁性大颗粒在交变磁场下的振动作用可以破碎流化床中纳米SiO2的大聚团.使床层压降和床层膨胀明显增大,流化质量获得显著提高.实验同时考察了磁场强度、磁性颗粒的添加量以及不同的静床高度等参数对流化性能的影响.获得了最佳工艺操作条件.     

The use of peat granules in a fluidized bed bioreactor

This study describes the particle characteristics and fluidized hydrodynamics of peat granules. Peat granules, moistened with water, are a potential packing material in a gas–solid fluidized bed bioreactor used for treating air pollution. Information on the fluidization of wet peat granules is lacking. In order to advance this new type of bioreactor and to scale up its design for industrial use, fluidization studies of suitable packing material are required. Using abiotic experiments, three sizes of peat granules have been fluidized with air and fluidization characteristics were observed at different superficial gas velocities. Relative to other biomass particles, peat granules have a high particle density and sphericity, which contributes to favourable fluidization behaviour, without gas channelling. Fluidization experiments demonstrate that as the mean size of peat particles increased, minimum fluidization velocity increased. Increasing the moisture content of the peat granules resulted in a transition from bubbling bed fluidization to poor fluidization behaviour. Other types of moist biomass particles such as sawdust are difficult to fluidize and typically exhibit Geldart group C behaviour. In contrast, it was observed that wet peat granules could be fluidized in a bubbling bed regime, typical of group B particles.     

Effects of acoustic vibration on nano and sub-micron powders fluidization

Fluidization of nano and sub-micron powders with and without acoustic vibration was investigated. The effects of sound pressure level and frequency were studied. Loudspeakers located under the distributor plate were used as the sound source to disintegrate larger agglomerates concentrated at the bottom of the bed. Nanoparticles showed fluid-like behavior similar to Geldart's A group and application of sound vibration improved their fluidization quality. Submicron particles were hard to fluidize and their fluidization quality was partially improved by sound excitation. Bed compaction, caused by rearranging of the agglomerates, was observed for submicron particles at low gas velocities while the bed was fixed. Nanoparticles did not experience any bed compaction. Sound vibration led to a decrease in minimum fluidization velocity and an increase in bed pressure drop and bed expansion for both types of particles. The fluidization quality of both particles increased at low frequencies, while the reverse was observed at higher frequencies. Fluidization of these particles was improved by increasing sound pressure level. There was a critical sound pressure level of 110 dB, below which the effect of sound vibration was insignificant. A novel technique was employed to find the apparent minimum fluidization velocity from pressure drop signals.     

SORPTION DRYING OF SOYBEAN SEEDS WITH SILICA GEL. I. HYDRODYNAMICS OF A FLUIDIZED BED DRYER

Fluidization technology has been employed to mix soybean seeds and silica gel particles in aim of sorption drying of particulate agricultural products. The characteristic fluidization velocities, mixing mechanisms and fluidization quality have been studied in a 180 mm I.D. fluidized bed. Two sizes of silica gel particles (SG2 and SG3) were selected, with the mass fractions in the range of 0.33-0.75 to form a static bed with height from 100 to 280 mm (H/D = 0.56-1.56). The results show that the dispersion rate of soybean seeds is increased with addition of either SG2 or SG3, and that the frequency and the span of pressure fluctuations within the bed are increased. It is inferred that the gas-solids contacting is improved with addition of small particles in the bed of large particles. In addition, for practical design and operation of such a fluidized bed of binary mixtures, empirical correlations for characteristic fluidization velocities were developed with a wide application.     

Fluidization characteristics of aerogel Co/Al2O3 catalyst in a magnetic fluidized bed and its application to CH4-CO2 reforming

The fluidization characteristics of a nanoparticle catalyst were investigated in a fluidized bed assisted with an axial magnetic field. It showed that slugging and channeling, commonly observed when processing nanoparticles via conventional fluidized bed reactors, could be effectively eliminated, and the size of the agglomerates and bubble diameter could also be reduced with the aid of the magnetic field, leading to much improved gas-solid contact efficiency. Due to the improved gas-solid contact efficiency, the performance of the CH₄-CO₂ catalytic reforming has been significantly enhanced, where the initial conversion of CH₄ was 7.6% and 24.3% higher than those obtained in a conventional fluidized bed reactor and a fixed bed reactor. The catalytic deactivation, caused by carbon deposition on catalyst surfaces, is also slower in the magnetic fluidized bed operation, where the CH₄ conversion is 11.7% and 42.6% greater as compared with those in the conventional fluidized bed operation and the fixed bed operation. The present investigations demonstrated that carbon deposition can be much suppressed through improving the gas-solid contact efficiency with the assistance of the magnetic field.     

Stability of a fluidized bed in the deposition of coatings on nuclear fuel kernels

The rates of fluidization of solid particles in a fluidized bed are estimated under conditions under which the mass, diameter, and density of particles change significantly as pyrolytic carbon and silicon carbide coatings are deposited on them. A relationship is revealed between the scale of turbulent pulsations of the gas flow and the stability of the fluidized bed.     

A novel fluidized and induction heated microreactor for catalyst testing

The jiggled bed reactor (JBR) is a state‐of‐the‐art batch fluidized microreactor designed and developed to test catalysts for endothermic reactions. The solid particles in the microreactor are mechanically fluidized by agitating the reactor using a linear pneumatic actuator. An external induction field heats up vertical metal wires installed inside the reactor bed to generate heat rapidly and uniformly within the bed of solid particles, while eliminating hot spots and large temperature gradients. Image and signal processing techniques were utilized to investigate how the fluidization dynamics of the solid particles are affected by the amplitude and frequency of the vibrations, and the size distribution and the mass of the particles. The results show that the microreactor is very flexible: operating conditions can be optimized to successfully fluidize any type of catalyst. Heat‐transfer coefficients between heating surfaces and the bed are similar to the coefficients that could be obtained in a well‐bubbling fluidized bed. This confirms the excellent quality of the fluidization achieved with the new JBR. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3107–3122, 2014     

Formulation of Nanostructured Heteroaggregates by Fluidization Technologies

Nanostructured heteroaggregates provide improved or new functionalities over homoaggregates due to the formation of heterocontacts. For a high number of heterocontacts, intense mixing of the primary particles and their reaggregation is required. This work presents results using the principle of fluidization for formulation of nanostructured heteroaggregates. Intraaggregate mixing of constituents is evaluated by SEM-EDX. The feasibility of two technologies, spouted bed and opposed jet fluidized bed, is demonstrated, also showing the variety of structures that can be achieved by the technologies.     

SORPTION DRYING OF SOYBEAN SEEDS WITH SILICA GEL. I. HYDRODYNAMICS OF A FLUIDIZED BED DRYER

ABSTRACT

Fluidization technology has been employed to mix soybean seeds and silica gel particles in aim of sorption drying of particulate agricultural products. The characteristic fluidization velocities, mixing mechanisms and fluidization quality have been studied in a 180 mm I.D. fluidized bed. Two sizes of silica gel particles (SG2 and SG3) were selected, with the mass fractions in the range of 0.33–0.75 to form a static bed with height from 100 to 280 mm (H/D = 0.56–1.56). The results show that the dispersion rate of soybean seeds is increased with addition of either SG2 or SG3, and that the frequency and the span of pressure fluctuations within the bed are increased. It is inferred that the gas–solids contacting is improved with addition of small particles in the bed of large particles. In addition, for practical design and operation of such a fluidized bed of binary mixtures, empirical correlations for characteristic fluidization velocities were developed with a wide application.