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.     

The Effect of Solids Inventory and Other Factors on the Axial Solids Holdup Profiles in a Twin‐Riser System

The axial profiles of cross‐sectional average solids holdup profiles were studied in two 10 m long, 76 mm i. d. and 203 mm i. d. risers with the solids circulation rate up to 550 kg/m²s, superficial gas velocities up to 10.0 m/s, and solids inventory up to 410 kg in the 320 mm i. d. storage tank. The shape of the axial profiles of the cross‐sectional average solids holdup changes with solids fluxes. Under high‐flux conditions, the shapes of the profiles are quite different from those under low‐flux conditions. It is clear that solids holdup increases with the increase of solids fluxes. While the superficial gas velocities have no obvious influence on the shape of the axial profiles of the cross‐sectional average solids holdup under given solids flux for both risers, solids holdup decreases with the increase of superficial gas velocity under all solids inventories. The solids inventory and riser diameter have little influence on the shape of the profile, but the solids holdup is higher with larger bed diameter and/or larger solids inventory. Meanwhile, the solids inventory and riser diameter have important influence on the maximum value of operating solids fluxes of the system. The maximum of solids fluxes increases with the increase of solids inventory, and decreases with the increase of riser diameter.     

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。     

Solids Holdup of High Flux Circulating Fluidized Bed at Elevated Pressure

Experimental studies on the solids holdup of a high‐flux circulating fluidized bed (HFCFB) at an operating pressure up to 0.5 MPa were carried out. The effects of operating pressure, solids mass flux and superficial gas velocity on the solids holdup distribution were systematically tested. It was found that the solids holdup at elevated pressure increases with increasing solids mass flux but decreases with increasing superficial gas velocity, which is similar to the trends at atmospheric condition. As a result, the condition of a high‐density circulating fluidized bed (HDCFB), i.e., solids holdup in everywhere of the riser is larger than 10 %) is easier to be achieved at elevated pressure than in a HDCFB operated at atmospheric pressure. In the current work, the condition of a full HDCFB with Geldart group B particles has been achieved successfully at 0.5 MPa.     

Radial Profiles of Gas Bubble Behavior in a Gas‐Liquid Bubble Column Reactor under Elevated Pressures

The effects of operating conditions on radial variation of gas holdups, bubble swarm rising velocity, and Sauter mean diameter were investigated in a bubble column reactor under elevated pressures using a conductivity probe method. Air served as gas phase and tap water as liquid phase with varying gas velocity and pressure. All three parameters increased constantly with higher superficial gas velocity. Maximum holdup, velocity, and Sauter mean diameter were found at the center of the cross section. Two different cases for Sauter mean diameter distribution were observed. The gas holdups increase continuously with higher system pressure, but decrease for bubble swarm rising velocity and Sauter mean diameter. According to experimental results, an empirical correlation of the gas holdup profiles is presented.     

采用电阻层析成像技术测量三相外环流反应器中相含率的实验研究

结合电阻层析成像技术和差压法,以平均粒径为3 mm的聚氨酯为固相,空气为气相,水为液相,对f90 mm的气升式三相外循环环流反应器中局部相含率及其径向分布进行了研究. 结果表明,在实验范围内,增大固相体积分率不影响气含率在上升管中的分布特征;固含率随着表观气速的增大先增大,当表观气速ug=0.09 m/s时反应器达到充分发展段,固相已充分循环;上升管中气固虚拟相的径向分布呈中心高、边壁低的特征,但并非严格对称,在r/R=0~0.2间出现极大值;下降管中气固虚拟相在径向上分布较为均匀. 本工作证实了两种技术相结合测量气液固三相相含率的可行性.     

Axial hydrodynamic studies in a gas-liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed riser

Axial distribution of phase holdups was studied in the riser of a gas-liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed (GLSCFB). The effects of gas and liquid superficial velocities as well as solids circulation rate on radial distribution of phase holdups at different axial locations were investigated. Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) and optical fiber probe were employed online in the experiments for a precise determination of phase holdups. An empirical model was developed for the determination of gas bubbles in analysis of data obtained by fiber optic sensor. Gas holdup was higher at the central region of the riser and increased axially due to coalescence of small bubbles and decrease of hydrostatic pressure at higher levels in the riser. This led to an increase in solids holdup in regions close to the wall which was slightly higher than the solids holdup at the wall. Both solids and liquid holdups were lower in the central region and increased radially towards the wall. Gas holdup decreased with increasing solids circulation rate but opposite trend was observed for solids holdup. Solids circulation rate had negligible effect on liquid holdup at lower axial locations compared to top of the riser. Cross-sectional average of solids, gas and liquid holdups did not change significantly at higher liquid superficial velocities.     

Phase distributions in a gas–liquid–solid circulating fluidized bed riser

The distributions of the three phases in gas–liquid–solid circulating fluidized beds (GLSCFB) were studied using a novel measurement technique that combines electrical resistance tomography (ERT) and optical fibre probe. The introduction of gas into a liquid–solid circulating fluidized bed (LSCFB), thus forming a GLSCFB, caused the increase of solids holdup due to the significantly decreased available buoyancy with the lower density of the gas, even with a somewhat increased liquid velocity due to the decreased liquid holdup giving space for the gas holdup. The gas passed through the riser in the form of bubbles, which tended to flow more through the central region of the riser, leading to more radial non‐uniformity in radial holdup of the phases. The gas velocity has the most significant effect on the gas phase holdup. While the gas velocity also has an obvious effect to the solids holdups, the liquid flow rate had a much more considerable effect on the phase holdups. The solids circulation rate also had a significant effect on the phase holdups, with increasing solids circulation rate causing much more increased solids holdup in the central region than close to the wall. A correlation was developed for the relative radial distributions of solids holdup in GLSCFB, as such radial profiles were found similar over a wide range of operating conditions, like those in a typical gas–solid circulating fluidized beds (GSCFB). Finally, the axial solids profiles in a GLSCFB was found to be much closer to those in an LSCFB which are very uniform, than those found in a GSCFB which are less uniform and sometime having a S shape. Water was used as the continuous and conductive phase, air was the gas phase and glass bead and lava rock particles were used as the solid and non‐conductive phase.     

CFD analysis of two‐phase turbulent flow in internal airlift reactors

The hydrodynamic performance of three internal airlift reactor configurations was studied by the Eulerian–Eulerian k–ε model for a two‐phase turbulent flow. Comparative evaluation of different drag and lift force coefficient models in terms of liquid velocity in the riser and downcomer and gas holdup in the riser was highlighted. Drag correlations as a function of Eötvös number performed better results in comparison to the drag expressions related to Reynolds number. However, the drag correlation as a function of both Reynolds and Eötvös numbers fitted well with experimental results for the riser gas holdup and downcomer liquid velocity in configurations I and II. Positive lift coefficients increase the liquid velocity and decrease the riser gas holdup, while opposite results were obtained for negative values. By studying the effects of bubble size and their shape, the smaller bubbles provide a lower liquid velocity and a gas holdup. The effects of bubble‐induced turbulence and other non‐drag closure models such as turbulent dispersion and added mass forces were analysed. The gas velocity and gas holdup distributions, liquid velocity in the riser and downcomer, vectors of velocity magnitude and streamlines for liquid phase, the dynamics of gas holdup distribution and turbulent viscosity at different superficial gas velocities for different reactor configurations were computed. The effects of various geometrical parameters such as the draft tube clearance and the ratio of the riser to the downcomer cross‐sectional area on liquid velocities in the riser and the downcomer, the gas velocity and the gas holdup were explored. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Application of electrical resistance tomography on liquid-solid two-phase flow characterization in an LSCFB riser

The application of liquid-solid circulating fluidized beds (LSCFB) is steadily increasing in the chemical, biochemical and other industries. Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) as an imaging technique was employed for the study of flow parameters such as phase holdup, velocity distribution of individual phases in LSCFB. ERT is a non-invasive technique based on conductivity measurement of the continuous phase, which also provides color-coded cross-sectional view of phases with a frequency of up to 250 images per second. The local conductivity measured by a number of electrodes located at the periphery of the plane was then further converted into a local phase concentration distribution based on Maxwell's relation. Local solids holdup also measured by using optical fibre probe to compare and verify the result obtained by ERT. By cross-correlation between the data obtained from a pair of planes of ERT, one upstream and one downstream, the phase propagation velocity was determined. Water was used as the continuous and conductive phase and glass beads and lava rocks (LR) of 500 μm sizes were used as the solid and non-conductive phase in this investigation. Radial non-uniformity of phase holdups was observed at different superficial liquid velocities. Solids holdup was higher in regions close to the wall and low in the central area. Such non-uniformity in phase holdup decreased with increasing liquid velocity. Both solids holdup and radial non-uniformity increased with superficial solids velocity. The solids propagation velocity increased in the central region under different superficial liquid velocities. Good agreement was observed between the data obtained from the two methods.     

提升管内密相颗粒团的运动行为

引　言对提升管中的微观流动结构及气固微观流动行为的研究将有助于对提升管反应器特性的认识 ,并可为新型、高效流化床反应器的设计提供思路 .提升管反应器中颗粒存在严重的聚集现象 ,研究者发现[1～ 4 ] ,提升管中局部位置上固含率概率密度分布呈现双峰形式 ,双峰分别对应于低固含的稀相与颗粒密集的颗粒团 ,提升管中的微观相结构为稀相与密相颗粒团共存 .文献 [5 ]中对稀相中的颗粒的运动行为进行了定量的、详细的研究 ,作者通过对颗粒速度瞬时信号的分析 ,获得了颗粒速度概率密度分布 .提升管局部位置上颗粒速度的概率密度分布也呈现双…     

多室环流反应器气含率的三维数值模拟与分析

在常温常压条件下,以空气为气相、水为液相,对多室气升式环流反应器内气液两相流动状态进行了数值模拟,采用Euler两相流模型模拟了不同表观气速条件下各室气含率的分布情况。数值模拟计算结果表明,上升室气含率随表观气速的增大近似呈线性增长;各上升室气含率受自身表观气速的影响较大,而受另外一上升室表观气速的影响较小。     

Measurement of Local Phase Holdups in a Two‐ and Three‐Phase Bubble Column

A new invasive sensing probe for the measurement of local phase holdups in two‐ and three‐phase reactors is described. The local gas and solids holdups in a bubble column with a volume of V = 2 m³ at varying operating conditions (gas velocity, sparger design, solids content and density) are measured by means of differential pressure measurement in combination with either time domain reflectometry or electrical conductivity measurement. The phase distribution profiles at two‐ and three‐phase operating conditions are described. The influence of the sparger design on the shape of these profiles, the influence of the solid phase on the gas distribution, the solids distribution and the gas‐stow effect above the sparger because of a dense particle layer are capable of experimental proof for the first time.     

16m高气固提升管中的压力梯度与流动行为研究

在较宽操作条件范围对16m高提升管中气－固两相流（空气－FCC颗粒）的压力梯度进行了实验测试,进一步揭示了快速流态化和密相气力输送这两种流动形态的动力学特征及其与操作参数的关系。结果表明,在表观气速增大的过程中气固提升管中的轴向压力梯度并非总是不断趋于均匀分布;提升管高度对快速流态化到密相气力输送状态的过渡有重要影响,对于给定的表观气速,提升管高度增加将使过渡点所应的颗粒循环量和床层颗粒浓度都减小。本实验条件下所有过滤点对应的床层颗粒浓度较为一致,平均为0．0104,并由此得到过渡点操作参数Ug与Gs的关联式。本文研究表明,在以往工作基础上进一步研究提升管高度对流动行为的影响极有必要。     

固液分布器中主分布器的实验研究

在不同结构形式的主分布器条件下，研究了表观液速对换热管中固含率、下管箱内床层高度、静压降及平均固含率的影响。利用体积容积法测量了换热管束中的固含率、刻度尺测量了下管箱中的床层高度、U形管测量了下管箱的静压降，并运用差压法测量了下管箱中平均固含率。采用不均匀度函数衡量了不同结构条件下管束间固含率的不均匀程度。实验结果表明：在换热管下方增加优化后的主分布器可以均匀分布固液两相；主分布器直径变化时对下管箱内流动特性的影响大于主分布器轴向位置改变时的影响。     

Full‐Loop Simulation of Gas‐Solids Flow in a Pilot‐Scale Circulating Fluidized Bed

In order to study the system hydrodynamics in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB), a 3D full‐loop simulation was conducted for a pilot‐scale CFB. The Eulerian‐Eulerian two‐fluid model with the kinetic theory of granular theory helped to simulate the gas‐solids flow in the CFB. The system hydrodynamics including pressure balance, vectors of gas and solids, distribution of solids holdup, and instantaneous circulating rates were obtained to get a comprehensive understanding of the system. It was predicted that the main driving force was the pressure drop of the storage tank. The storage height and valve opening were critical operating factors to control the riser operation. The effects of operating conditions including solids circulating rates and superficial gas velocity on the hydrodynamics were investigated to provide guidance for the stable operation of the CFB system.     

Hydrodynamics of a Tapered Bubble Column

The hydrodynamic behavior of a single‐stage tapered bubble column using an air‐water two‐phase system has been studied. The experimental results indicate that the holdup increases with increasing superficial gas velocity and bubble slip velocity, while it remains constant with increasing superficial liquid velocity. The gas flow rate has a subtle effect on pressure drop owing to the dynamic pressure recovery stemming from the increase in flow area in the axial direction. The results further suggest that the tapered bubble column shows higher holdup with lower energy dissipation than the conventional bubble columns under similar hydrodynamic conditions. The experimental values of the holdup are in excellent agreement with the well‐known Akita and Yoshida correlation available in the existing literature. Also, the performance of the tapered system has been shown to be much better than that of conventional columns under similar conditions in water/alkaline scrubbing of fly ash and SO₂ either alone or in combination.     

三相环流反应器中的局部相含率

将压差法与气-液相间滑移速度相结合,提出了利用压差法测量三相区局部相含率的新方法,将测得的局部固含率进行轴向平均并与由颗粒装填量计算所得的固含率进行比较,证明了此方法的可靠性. 利用所提出的测量方法,考察了三相环流反应器中气含率和固含率随操作条件的变化规律. 结果表明,气含率随表观气速的升高而增大,且随轴向位置的升高而增大;大颗粒具有破碎气泡的作用,能够增大反应器内的气含率;固含率随表观气速的增加而降低,且沿轴向变化较大. 表观气速较高时,固含率沿轴向近似呈S形分布.     

浆态床鼓泡反应器中气含率的分布

为了解浆态床鼓泡反应器中气含率的分布规律,在浆态床鼓泡反应器冷模试验装置中,以空气-液体石蜡-氧化铝微球为试验介质对装置内部的气含率进行研究。利用压差法研究了表观气速、浆液固含量等操作条件对反应器床层总体气含率的影响,利用光纤探针法研究了浆态床反应器不同操作条件对局部气含率的影响,总结了反应器内部气含率的分布规律,并由此对工业浆态床鼓泡反应器的设计进行了研究。结果表明:浆态床反应器的总体气含率随表观气速的增大而增大,固体细颗粒的加入能适当降低总体气含率;在反应器底部,分布器对气体的均布作用明显,但表观气速的增大能够弱化分布器的作用;在反应器的中上部气含率不受分布器的影响,沿反应器径向呈现"中间高,边缘低"的分布趋势;在工业费托浆态床中,表观气速不宜低于0.12 m/s,内过滤系统适宜设置于反应器中上部靠近器壁的位置。     

Solids flow mapping in a high pressure slurry bubble column

Successful design and scale-up of Slurry Bubble Column Reactors (SBCRs) require proper understanding of how operating conditions affect their flow behavior. Presently, there is little information on the flow dynamics of solids (e.g., distribution of velocities and turbulent parameters) in slurry systems that are operated at industrially relevant conditions of high pressure, high superficial gas velocities, and high solids loading.Computer Automated Radio Particle Tracking (CARPT) is widely recognized as one of a few techniques that can be reliably used even in highly turbulent and opaque slurry flows. This work utilizes an improved CARPT technique to investigate the effect of reactor pressure (0.1-1 MPa) and superficial gas velocity (0.08-0.45 m/s) on solids phase velocity and shear stress in a pilot scale 0.16 m diameter stainless steel column using an air-water-glass beads () system. The solids axial velocity and shear stress were found to increase noticeably with pressure and superficial gas velocity in the churn turbulent flow regime.