Hydrodynamics in a new liquid–solid circulating conventional fluidized bed

A new type of liquid–solid fluidized bed, named circulating conventional fluidized bed (CCFB) which operates below particle terminal velocity was proposed and experimentally studied. The hydrodynamic behavior was systematically studied in a liquid–solid CCFB of 0.032 m I.D. and 4.5 m in height with five different types of particles. Liquid–solid fluidization with external particle circulation was experimentally realized below the particle terminal velocity. The axial distribution of local solids holdup was obtained and found to be fairly uniform in a wide range of liquid velocities and solids circulation rates. The average solids holdup is found to be significantly increased compared with conventional fluidization at similar conditions. The effect of particle properties and operating conditions on bed behavior was investigated as well. Results show that particles with higher terminal velocity have higher average solids holdup.     

Rod-like particles matching algorithm based on SOM neural network in dispersed two-phase flow measurements

A matching algorithm based on self-organizing map (SOM) neural network is proposed for tracking rod-like particles in 2D optical measurements of dispersed two-phase flows. It is verified by both synthetic images of elongated particles mimicking 2D suspension flows and direct numerical simulations-based results of prolate particles dispersed in a turbulent channel flow. Furthermore, the potential benefit of this algorithm is evaluated by applying it to the experimental data of rod-like fibers tracking in wall turbulence. The study of the behavior of elongated particles suspended in turbulent flows has a practical importance and covers a wide range of applications in engineering and science. In experimental approach, particle tracking velocimetry of the dispersed phase has a key role together with particle image velocimetry of the carrier phase to obtain the velocities of both phases. The essential parts of particle tracking are to identify and match corresponding particles correctly in consecutive images. The present study is focused on the development of an algorithm for pairing non-spherical particles that have one major symmetry axis. The novel idea in the algorithm is to take the orientation of the particles into account for matching in addition to their positions. The method used is based on the SOM neural network that finds the most likely matching link in images on the basis of feature extraction and clustering. The fundamental concept is finding corresponding particles in the images with the nearest characteristics: position and orientation. The most effective aspect of this two-frame matching algorithm is that it does not require any preliminary knowledge of neither the flow field nor the particle behavior. Furthermore, using one additional characteristic of the non-spherical particles, namely their orientation, in addition to its coordinate vector, the pairing is improved both for more reliable matching at higher concentrations of dispersed particles and for higher robustness against loss of particle pairs between image frames.     

Explanation of scaling phenomenon based on fractal fragmentation

A significant ‘size effect' is observed in tensile strength of solid particles, such as ice, rock, ceramics and concrete: the tensile strength is not independent of the fragment size, but decreases with increasing size. The Weibull statistical theory was universally used to calculate the size effect observed in solid particles. Recent developments in fractal theory suggest that fractals may provide a more realistic representation of solid particles. In this paper, the scaling phenomenon of ice mechanics is explained using the fractal model for ice particle fragmentation. The Weibull statistics is modified using the fractal crushing of ice, and is compared with the conventional one. Goodness-of-fit statistics show that the modified Weibull statistics fits the experimental data of ice much better than the conventional one. The modified Weibull statistics has only one parameter, the fractal dimension of the fragment size distribution, which has a general value of 2.50 for the ice fragmentations.     

两相流PIV粒子图像处理方法的研究

本文在单相PIV技术的基础上研究了两相流动PIV图像处理方法，采用摸板匹配法和灰度加权标定法对两相粒子进行了识别、区分和标定，采用灰度互相关法对区分后的单相粒子图像进行了处理，应用基于以上方法编制的Windows应用软件，首先对由美国Minnesota大学复杂流动实验室提供的两相流动粒子图片进行了处理，通过对比分析可见，应用本文所采用的方法能对两相粒子进行有效的识别和区分，然后以搅拌槽内液固两相流场为例对此方法进行了应用。     

钢—铜摩损过程中磨粒积聚的分形研究

在销-盘摩擦磨损试验机上考察45^#钢-铜合金摩擦副的磨损性能,按一定时间间隔收集磨损过程中积聚的金属磨粒,然后用光学显微镜对不同粒径范围内的磨粒进行计数和分形研究。研究结果表明：不同粒径的金属磨粒所对应的积聚数呈现明显的分形特征,小磨粒积聚和大磨粒积聚表现出不同的分形特征,并具有双重分形现象;磨损过程中的磨粒积聚分形特征对应于某一粒径尺度的分形转折点,该分形转折点的坐标位置与磨损状态相关,因此确定分形转折点有助于甄别磨损状态。     

3D PTV measurement of oscillatory thermocapillary convection in half-zone liquid bridge

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of a unique particle motion in oscillatory thermocapillary convections in a small-sized half-zone liquid bridge with a radius of O (1 mm) was carried out by applying 3D particle tracking velocimetry (PTV). By placing a small cubic beam splitter above a transparent top rod, simultaneous observation of the particles in the bridge by use of two CCD cameras was realized. Reconstruction of the 3D trajectories and the particle velocity fields in several types of oscillatory flow regimes was conducted successfully for a sufficiently long period without losing particle tracking.     

三维射流PIV图像处理方法的研究及其精度分析

本文利用三台照相机系统记录三维射流的流动，通过照相机系统的标定、三维空间粒子的重构、空间粒子的对应及误对应向量的判断和消除等，建立了一种三个图像记录设备组成的三维PIV图像处理算法，并对其精度进行了分析，通过对三维射流图像的处理和分析表明，该方法是切实可行的。     

Dual characters of interaction between particles and fluid

The unique characteristics of gas-solids two-phase flow and fluidization in terms of the flow structures and the apparent behavior of particles and fluid-particle interactions are closely linked to physical properties of the particles, operating conditions and bed configurations. Fluidized beds behave quite differently when solid properties, gas velocities or vessel geometries are varied. An understanding of hydrodynamic changes and how they, in turn, influence the transfer and reaction characteristics of chemical and thermal operations by variations in gas-solid contact, residence time, solid circulation and mixing and gas distribution is very important for the proper design and scale-up of fluidized bed reactors. In this paper, rather than attempting a comprehensive survey, we concentrate on examining some important positive and negative impacts of particle sizes, bubbles, clusters and column walls on the physical and chemical aspects of chemical reactor performance from the engineering application point of view with the aim of forming an adequate concept for guiding the design of multiphase fluidized bed chemical reactors.One unique phenomenon associated with particle size is that fluidized bed behavior does not always vary monotonically with changing the average particle size. Different behaviors of particles with difference sizes can be well understood by analyzing the relationship between particle size and various forces. For both fine and coarse particles, too narrow a distribution is generally not favorable for smooth fluidization. A too wide size distribution, on the other hand, may lead to particle segregation and high particle elutriation. Good fluidization performance can be established with a proper size distribution in which inter-particle cohesive forces are reduced by the lubricating effect of fine particles on coarse particles for Type A, B and D particles or by the spacing effect of coarse particles or aggregates for Type C powders.Much emphasis has been paid to the negative impacts of bubbles, such as gas bypassing through bubbles, poor bubble-to-dense phase heat & mass transfer, bubble-induced large pressure fluctuations, process instabilities, catalyst attrition and equipment erosion, and high entrainment of particles induced by erupting bubbles at the bed surface. However, it should be noted that bubble motion and gas circulation through bubbles, together with the motion of particles in bubble wakes and clouds, contribute to good gas and solids mixing. The formation of clusters can be attributed to the movement of trailing particles into the low-pressure wake region of leading particles or clusters. On one hand, the existence of down-flowing clusters induces strong solid back-mixing and non-uniform radial distributions of particle velocities and holdups, which is undesirable for chemical reactions. On the other hand, the formation of clusters creates high solids holdups in the riser by inducing internal solids circulations, which are usually beneficial for increasing concentrations of solid catalysts or solid reactants.Wall effects have widely been blamed for complicating the scale-up and design of fluidized-bed reactors. The decrease in wall friction with increasing the column diameter can significantly change the flow patterns and other important characteristics even under identical operating conditions with the same gas and particles. However, internals, which can be considered as a special wall, have been used to improve the fluidized bed reactor performance.Generally, desirable and undesirable dual characteristics of interaction between particles and fluid are one of the important natures of multiphase flow. It is shown that there exists a critical balance between those positive and negative impacts. Good fluidization quality can always be achieved with a proper choice of right combinations of particle size and size distribution, bubble size and wall design to alleviate the negative impacts.     

Simultaneous velocimetry/accelerometry measurements in a turbulent two-phase pipe flow

A two-color digital particle image velocimetry and accelerometry (DPIV and DPIA) measurement technique is described that records the velocity and acceleration fields of both the solid and liquid phases simultaneously. Measurements were taken at turbulent conditions of a vertical pipe flow using glass spheres as the solid phase and fluorescent particles to indicate fluid phase motion. Nd-YAG pulse lasers acted as illumination sources and images were recorded by two monochrome CCD cameras. The two-color aspect of the technique was realized by placing optical filters in front of the cameras to discriminate between the phases. Cross-correlations and auto-correlations were applied to determine velocity and acceleration fields of the two phases. Results showing some of the capabilities of the technique as applied to a two-phase pipe flow experiment are provided. For the condition studied, it was found that there was turbulence suppression due to the solid phase and that the statistics associated with the acceleration probability distribution were different for the solid and fluid phases.     

Numerical solution and sensitivity analysis of filter cake permeability and resistance to model parameters

The migration and capture of solid particles in porous media occur in fields as diverse as water and wastewater treatment, well drilling, and in various liquid-solid separation processes. Filter cakes are formed when a liquid containing solid particles is forced through a pervious surface which allows the liquid transport while retaining solid particles. Following a literature survey, a governing equation for the cake thickness is obtained by considering the instantaneous mass balance. Later, numerical solutions for the cake thickness, cake permeability, cake resistance, solid particle velocity (cake compression rate) and concentration of suspended particles are obtained and a sensitivity analysis is conducted. The sensitivity analysis shows that the cake permeability and cake resistance are more sensitive to the rate constant of cake erosion than they are to the rate constant of particle capture. However, the concentration of suspended solid particles, and the solid velocity are mostly sensitive to the slurry parameter and the rate constant of particle trapping. Moreover, cake permeability, compressibility, concentration of suspended particles, and the solid velocity are very sensitive to the concentration at the filter septum. Finally, as expected, with a thicker slurry, more particles are captured inside the cake, thus forming a thicker and more resistant cake. Also, as more particles are being filtered at the filter septum, a thinner cake is formed and a smaller effluent concentration is achieved.     

An enhanced treatment of boundary conditions in implicit smoothed particle hydrodynamics简

In this work, an enhanced treatment of the solid boundaries is proposed for smoothed particle hydrodynamics with implicit time integration scheme （Implicit SPH）. Three types of virtual particles, i.e., boundary particles, image particles and mirror particles, are used to impose boundary conditions. Boundary particles are fixed on the solid boundary, and each boundary particle is associated with two fixed image particles inside the fluid domain and two fixed mirror particles outside the fluid domain. The image particles take the flow properties through fluid particles with moving least squares （MLS） interpolation and the properties of mirror particles can be obtained by the corresponding image particles. A repulsive force is also applied for boundary particles to prevent fluid particles from unphysical penetra- tion through solid boundaries. The new boundary treatment method has been validated with five numerical examples. All the numerical results show that Implicit SPH with this new boundary-treatment method can obtain accurate results for non-Newtonian fluids as well as Newtonian fluids, and this method is suitable for complex solid boundaries and can be easily extended to 3D problems.     

Incorporating truncated fractal distribution into Maxwell model to quantify thermal conductivity and its uncertainty in heterogeneous multiparticle systems

An approach is developed to examine the mean and uncertainty of thermal conductivity of a heterogeneous multiparticle system, where the particle concentration or void fraction is treated as a truncated fractal distribution. The truncated fractal distribution is then integrated into the Maxwell model, which is equivalent to a cell model in which the multiparticle system is conceptualized as a spherical fluid cell that envelopes a solid particle. The developed mean thermal conductivity is compared with four experimental data sets of liquid-saturated media from the literature. The effect of fractal characteristics is quantified and discussed. Incorporating particle concentration or void fraction truncated fractal distribution can better capture scatters in the experimental results. The thermal conductivity and its standard deviation decrease with increasing fractal dimensions. When the void fraction is truncated fractal, the uncertainty increases mostly in the low mean void fraction range and drops more quickly with the increasing mean void fraction compared to the case where the particle concentration is truncated fractal. In a typical case of multiparticle system when the solid particles are more conductive than the fluid, the faster increase rate of standard deviation with the ratio of solid over fluid conductivities occurs when the mean void fraction is smaller.     

岩石单颗粒压缩破碎试验研究

岩石颗粒结构复杂、形态不规则,很难用现有经典理论进行研究,分形理论可以从统计的角度研究颗粒破碎的强度。根据600颗大理岩单颗粒破碎试验,测量单颗粒破碎的应力与竖向应变关系曲线和破碎后的颗粒分布曲线,将颗粒破碎曲线按形态分为三种类型;根据颗粒破碎后的颗粒分布特性,建立了岩石颗粒破碎的分形模型,测得了大理岩颗粒破碎的分维D为2.48;根据颗粒破碎的分形模型,导出颗粒破碎强度的理论公式;将大理岩颗粒破碎强度的试验数据与理论公式预测结果进行比较,两者十分吻合,从而验证了颗粒破碎强度的分形理论。     

Rheology of particle suspensions in viscoelastic media. Wood flour-polypropylene melt

The dynamic mechanical behavior of suspensions of wood flour in polypropylene (PP) melts was investigated at varying filler concentrations. The main observed features were related to the viscoelastic nature of the polymer and to the filler aggregation, where the process of formation and destruction of particle clusters is governed by the polymer chain dynamics. The effect of the wood flour particles at low and large deformations was analyzed. The sample containing a wood flour concentration of 50% (by weight) showed a solid like behavior at low frequencies and was identified as the sample closer to a liquid-solid transition (LST). The values of the Newtonian viscosity obtained from sinusoidal oscillations at low frequencies were related to the concentration of filler in the suspensions. Moreover, a filler concentration scaling was found, that allows to obtain a master curve using the neat polymer as the reference and from which it is possible to calculate the dynamic mechanical behavior of all the suspensions. Apparently, for this system, the relaxation mechanisms of the neat polymer are not changed by the presence of the filler. However, the corresponding relaxation times are increased as a function of the filler concentration.     

Effect of particle number density in in-line digital holographic particle velocimetry

A digital in-line holographic particle tracking velocimetry (HPTV) system was developed to measure 3D (three-dimensional) velocity fields of turbulent flows. The digital HPTV (DHPTV) procedure consists of four steps: recording, numerical reconstruction, particle extraction and velocity extraction. In the recording step, a digital CCD camera was used as a recording device. Holograms contained many unwanted images or noise. To get clean holograms, digital image processing techniques were adopted. In the velocity extraction routine, we improved the HPTV algorithm to extract 3D displacement information of tracer particles. In general, the results obtained using HPTV were not fully acceptable due to technical limitations such as low spatial resolution, small volume size, and low numerical aperture (NA). The problems of spatial resolution and NA are closely related with a recording device. As one experimental parameter that can be optimized, we focused on the particle number density. Variation of the reconstruction efficiency and recovery ratio were compared quantitatively with varying particle number density to check performance of the developed in-line DHPTV system. The reconstruction efficiency represented the particle number distribution acquired through the numerical reconstruction procedure. In addition the recovery ratio showed the performance of 3D PTV algorithm employed for DHPTV measurements. The particle number density in the range of C _o = 13–17 particles/mm³ was found to be optimum for the DHPTV system tested in this study.     

Eulerian–Lagrangian simulation of distinct clustering phenomena and RTDs in riser and downer

Numerical simulation of fully developed hydrodynamics of a riser and a downer was carried out using an Eulerian–Lagrangian model, where the particles are modeled by the discrete element method (DEM) and the gas by the Navier–Stokes equations. Periodic flow domain with two side walls was adopted to simulate the fully developed dynamics in a 2D channel of 10 cm in width. All the simulations were carried out under the same superficial gas velocity and solids holdup in the domain, starting with a homogenous state for both gas and solids, and followed by the evolution of the dynamics to the heterogeneous state with distinct clustering in the riser and the downer. In the riser, particle clusters move slowly, tending to suspend along the wall or to flow downwards, which causes wide residence time distribution of the particles. In the downer, clusters still exist, but they have faster velocities than the discrete particles. Loosely collected particles in the clusters move in the same direction as the bulk flow, resulting in plug flow in the downer. The residence time distribution (RTD) of solids was computed by tracking the displacements of all particles in the flow direction. The results show a rather wide RTD for the solids in the riser but a sharp peak RTD in the downer, much in agreement with the experimental findings in the literature. The ensemble average of transient dynamics also shows reasonable profiles of solids volume fraction and solids velocity, and their dependence on particle density.     

Effects of hydrophilic particles on bubbly flow in slurry bubble column

To investigate the effects of hydrophilic particles on slurry bubble flows in a bubble column, distributions of the local gas holdup and the bubble frequency are measured using an electric conductivity probe. Particles are made of silica and their diameter is 100 μm. The particle volumetric concentration C_S is varied from 0 to 0.40. The measured data imply that the presence of particles promotes bubble coalescence. The film drainage time for two coalescing bubbles in a quasi two-dimensional bubble flow in a small vessel is also measured to quantitatively evaluate the particle effect on coalescence. A particle-effect multiplier is introduced into a coalescence efficiency model by taking into account the data of film drainage time and is implemented into a multi-fluid model. The main conclusions obtained are as follows: (1) the local gas holdup and bubble frequency in slurry bubble flows decrease with increasing the particle concentration, (2) the hydrophilic particles enhance bubble coalescence and the enhancement saturates at C_S ≃ 0.45, (3) the particle effect on coalescence is well accounted for by introducing the particle-effect multiplier to the film drainage time, and (4) the multi-fluid model can give good predictions for the distribution of the local gas holdup in the slurry bubble column.     

Cataracting-centrifuging transition investigation using nonspherical and spherical particles in a rotary drum through CFD simulations

This paper aims to systematically investigate the cataracting-centrifuging transition in a rotary drum involving spherical and nonspherical particles by using the Multiphase Granular Eulerian Model (MGEM). The effects of drum length and particle shape on the cataracting-centrifuging transition behavior were analyzed. The results showed that drum length plays an important role in the cataracting-centrifuging transition, although most related works in the literature do not consider this. The particle shape also significantly affects the cataracting-centrifuging transition behavior. Nonspherical particles required lower rotation speeds than spherical particles to reach the centrifuging condition. The particle shape was shown to be related to the critical solid fraction (α_sc) from Schaeffer’s model, although further investigations are required to completely correlate particle spherecity with critical solid volume fractions.     

Effect of static bed height in the upper fluidized bed on flow behavior in the lower riser section of a coupled reactor

To study olefin reduction by using an auxiliary reactor for FCC naphtha upgrading, a large-scale cold model of a riser-bed coupled to an upper fluidized bed was established. The effect of static bed height in the upper fluidized bed on particle flow behavior in the lower riser was investigated experimentally. A restriction index of solids holdup was used to evaluate quantitatively the restrictive effect of the upper fluidized bed. Experimental results show that, under the restrictive effect of the upper fluidized bed, the riser could be divided into three regions in the longitudinal direction: accelerating, fully developed and restriction. The axial distribution of solids holdup in the riser is characterized by large solids holdup in the top and bottom sections and small solids holdup in the middle section. Overall solids holdup increased with increasing static bed height in the upper fluidized bed, while particle velocity decreased. Such restrictive effect of the upper fluidized bed could extend from the middle and top sections to the whole riser volume when riser outlet resistance is increased, which increases with increasing static bed height in the upper fluidized bed. The upper bed exerts the strongest restriction on the area close to the riser outlet.