Fluidization of particles in SCW fluidized bed:Voidage distribution of emulsion phase

Supercritical water (SCW) fluidized bed reactors convert biomass to fuels without pollutants emission.In this work,experimental studies were carried out to inve...     

Flow structure and bubble dynamics in supercritical water fluidized bed and gas fluidized bed: A comparative study

Supercritical water (SCW) fluidized bed is a new reactor concept for hydrogen production from biomass or coal gasification. In this paper, a comparative study on flow structure and bubble dynamics in a supercritical water fluidized bed and a gas fluidized bed was carried out using the discrete element method (DEM). The results show that supercritical water condition reduces the incipient fluidization velocity, changes regime transitions, i.e. a homogeneous fluidization was observed when the superficial velocity is in the range of the minimum fluidization velocity and minimum bubbling velocity even the solids behave as Geldart B powders in the gas fluidized bed. Bubbling fluidization in the supercritical water fluidized bed was formed after superficial velocity exceeds the minimum bubbling velocity, as in the gas fluidized bed. Bubble is one of the most important features in fluidized bed, which is also the emphasis in this paper. Bubble growth was effectively suppressed in the supercritical water fluidized bed, which resulted in a more uniform flow structure. By analyzing a large number of bubbles, bubble dynamic characteristics such as diameter distribution, frequency, rising path and so on, were obtained. It is found that bubble dynamic characteristics in the supercritical water fluidized bed differ a lot from that in the gas fluidized bed, and there is a better fluidization quality induced by the bubble dynamics in the supercritical water fluidized bed.     

Fluidization and bubbling behavior of potash particles in a deep fluidized bed

Most existing models for predicting bubble size and bubble frequency have been developed for freely bubbling fluidized beds. Accurate prediction of bubbling behavior in deep fluidized beds, however, has been a challenge due to the higher degree of bubble coalescence and break up, high probability of the slugging regime, partial fluidization, and chaotic behavior in the bubbling regime. In this work, the bubbling and fluidization behavior of potash particles was investigated in a deep fluidized bed employing a twin-plane electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) system. Solid volume fraction, average bubble velocity, average bubble diameter, and bubble frequency in both bubbling and slugging regimes were measured at two different bed height ratios (H/D = 3.5 and H/D = 3.78). This work is the first to illustrate a sequential view of bubbles at different superficial gas velocities in a fluidized bed. The results show that both the bubble diameter and rising velocity increased with increasing the superficial gas velocity for the two bed heights, with larger values observed in the deeper bed compared to the shallower one. Predicted values for bubble diameter, bubble rise velocity and bubble frequency from different models are compared with the experimental data obtained from the ECT system in this work. Good agreement has been achieved between the values predicted by the previous models and the experimental data for the bubble diameter and bubble rise velocity with an average absolute deviation of 16% and 15% for the bed height of 49 cm and 13% and 8% for the bed height of 53 cm, respectively.     

Influence of cycle time distribution on coating uniformity of particles in a spray fluidized bed by using CFD-DEM simulations

Cycle Time Distribution (CTD) plays a critical role for determining uniformity of particle coating in spray fluidized beds. However, the CTD is influenced by both geometrical structure and operating conditions of fluidized bed. In this study, a spray fluidized bed of coating process is simulated by a comprehensive Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Model (CFD-DEM). To achieve different behaviors of CTD, some modifications are designed on a pseudo-2D internally circulating fluidized bed, which traditionally composes of a high-velocity upward bed and low-velocity downward bed. These modifications include making the air distributor slope and/or laying a baffle in the downward bed. First, the CTD and evolution of particle size distribution under different bed structures are compared. The CTD directly influences the coating uniformity. By making the particles flowing along a parallel direction in the downward bed through the geometrical modifications, the CTD becomes narrower and the coating uniformity is significantly improved. Second, under the optimized bed structure, the influence of operating conditions on the coating uniformity is studied. Properly increasing the fluidization gas velocity and the fluidization gas temperature and reducing the liquid spray rate can improve the coating uniformity.     

Numerical investigation on cold flow dynamics of supercritical water fluidized bed reactor with inclined distributor: Design and scale up

Supercritical water fluidized bed reactor (SCWFBR) is a novel concept for the gasification of coal and biomass to produce hydrogen. In this work, to enhance the mixing in the axial direction, an inclined distributor is introduced to optimize the flow dynamics in SCWFBR with partitioned fluid supply. Through numerical simulations based on the two fluid model (TFM), the effects of the inclined distributor structure and operating parameters on the solid distribution and the residence time are evaluated with the optimal values determined. Numerical results show that, area ratio = 2:1, SCW velocity ratio = 3:1, flow ratio = 3.36:1 and inclination angle = 20° are the optimal design in this paper. A predictive correlation of the minimum fluidization velocity for the improved SCWFBR is also proposed based on the numerical data. The average error between the correlation and numerical simulation results is approximately 1.4% which strongly demonstrates its capability. Finally, based on the optimal design, the lab-scale reactor is further scaled up and the studies about two scale-up rules are carried out. Only the cold flow is simulated in this study without considering chemical reaction which would be involved in future work.     

Fluidization behavior of graphitized glassy particles in a fluidized carbon bed cooling process for investment casting

Fluidized Carbon Bed Cooling (FCBC) is an innovative investment casting process for directional solidification of superalloy components. It takes advantage of a fluidized bed with a base of small glassy carbon beads for cooling and other low-density particles that form an insulating layer by floating to the bed surface. This so-called “Dynamic Baffle” protects the fluidized bed from the direct heat input from the high-temperature heating zone and provides the basis for an improved bed microstructure. The prerequisites for a stable casting process are stable fluidization conditions where neither collapse of the bed nor particle blow out at excessive bubble formation occur.This work aimed to investigate the fluidization behavior of spherical carbon bed material in argon and air at temperatures between 20 to 350 °C. Systematic studies at reduced pressures using the FCBC prototype device were performed to understand the stable fluidization conditions at all stages of the investment casting process. The particle shape factor and size distribution characterization and the measurement of the powder’s minimum fluidization velocity and bed voidage show that this material can be fully utilized as a cooling and buoyancy medium during the FCBC process.     

DEM simulation of polydisperse systems of particles in a fluidized bed

Numerical simulations based on three-dimensional discrete element model (DEM) are conducted for mono-disperse, binary and ternary systems of particles in a fluidized bed. Fluid drag force acting on each particle depending on its size and relative velocity is assigned. The drag coefficient corresponding to Ergun’s correlation is applied to the system of fluidized bed with particle size ratios of 1:1 for the mono-disperse system, 1:1.2, 1:1.4 and 1:2 for the binary system and 1:1.33:2 for the ternary system b...     

Experimental study and modeling of particle drying in a continuously-operated horizontal fluidized bed

Multistage fluidized beds are frequently used for product drying in industry. One advantage of these fluidized beds is that they can achieve a high throughput, when operated continuously. In this study, γ-Al₂O₃ particles were dried in a pilot-scale horizontal fluidized bed, without considering any comminution effects. For each experiment, the particle moisture content distribution and residence time distribution were determined. To take into account particle back mixing in our experiments, a one-dimensional population balance model that considers particle residence time was introduced into a fluidized bed-drying model. Experimental particle residence time distributions were reproduced using a tank-in-series model. Subsequently, the moisture content distribution was implemented, as a second dimension to the population balance in this model. These two-dimensional simulations were able to describe the experimental data, especially the spread in the residual particle moisture distribution, much more accurately than one-dimensional simulations. Using this novel two-dimensional model, the effects of different operating parameters (process gas temperature, solid feed rate, superficial air velocity) on the particle moisture content distribution were systematically studied.     

Heat transfer characteristics in a horizontal swirling fluidized bed

An innovative horizontal swirling fluidized bed (HSFB) with a rectangular baffle in the center of an air distributor and three layers of horizontal secondary air nozzles located at each corner of fluidized bed was developed. Experiments on heat transfer characteristics were conducted in a cold HSFB test model. Heat transfer coefficients between immersed tubes and bed materials in the HSBF were measured with the help of a fast response heat transfer probe. The influences of fluidization velocity, particle size of bed materials, measurement height, probe orientation, and secondary air injection, etc. on heat transfer coefficients were intensively investigated. Test results indicated that heat transfer coefficients increase with fluidization velocity, and reach their maximum values at 1.5-3 times of the minimum fluidization velocity. Heat transfer coefficients are variated along the circumference of the probe, and heat transfer coefficients on the leeward side of the probe are larger than that on the windward side of the probe. Heat transfer coefficients decrease with increasing of measurement height; heat transfer coefficients of the longitudinal probe are larger than that of the transverse probe. The proper secondary air injection and particle size of bed materials can generate a preferred hydrodynamics in the dense zone and enhance heat transfer in a HSFB.     

CFD-simulation of a circulating fluidized bed riser

In the current work, a model of the fluid mechanics in the riser of a circulating fluidized bed （CFB） has been implemented using computational fluid dynamics （CFD）. The model developed shall be used in future as the basis of 3D-reactor model for the simulation of large scale CFB combustors. The two-fluid model （TFM） approach is used to represent the fluid mechanics involved in the flow. The computational implementation is accomplished by the commercial software FLUENT. Different closure formulations are tested on a simplified geometry. Two different turbulence formulations, namely the swirl modified RNG k-e model and the Realizable k-e model, are tested in combination with two different approaches to solid phase turbulence, namely the dispersion and per phase approach. One focus of the current work is put on the study of different drag correlations. Besides the drag correlations by Syamlal et al. [Syamlal, M., Rogers, W., ＆ O＇Brien, T. J. （1993）. MFIX documentation theory guide. Technical Report DOE/METC-9411004, U.S. Department of Energy （DOE）. Morgantown Energy Technology Center： Morgantown, WV] and Gidaspow [Gidaspow, D. （1994）. Multiphaseflow andfluidization. New York： Academic Press] the EMMS model has been used to determine the momentum exchange between the two phases. The resulting formulation is then used to simulate a 1-m × 0.3-m cold CFB setup and is validated by experimental results [Schlichtharle, P. （2000）. Fluid dynamics and mixing of solids and gas in the bottom zone of circulating fluidized beds. Unoublished doctoral dissertation, Technische Universitaet Hamburg-Harburg, Shaker Verlag： Aachen].     

CFD-simulation of a circulating fluidized bed riser

In the current work,a model of the fluid mechanics in the riser of a circulating fluidized bed(CFB)has been implemented using computational fluid dynamics(CFD).The model developed shall be used in future as the basis of 3D-reactor model for the simulation of large scale CFB combustors.The two-fluid model(TFM)approach is used to represent the fluid mechanics involved in the flow.The computational implementation is accomplished by the commercial software FLUENT.Different closure formulations are tested on a simplified geometry.Two different turbulence formulations,namely the swirl modified RNG k–εmodel and the Realizable k–εmodel,are tested in combination with two different approaches to solid phase turbulence,namely the dispersion and per phase approach.One focus of the current work is put on the study of different drag correlations.Besides the drag correlations by Syamlal et al.[Syamlal,M.,Rogers, W.,O’Brien,T.J.(1993).MFIX documentation theory guide.Technical Report DOE/METC-94/1004,U.S. Department of Energy(DOE).Morgantown Energy Technology Center:Morgantown,WV]and Gidaspow [Gidaspow,D.(1994).Multiphase flow and fluidization.New York:Academic Press]the EMMS model has been used to determine the momentum exchange between the two phases.The resulting formulation is then used to simulate a 1-m×0.3-m cold CFB setup and is validated by experimental results[Schlichthrle, P.(2000).Fluid dynamics and mixing of solids and gas in the bottom zone of circulating fluidized beds. Unpublished doctoral dissertation,Technische Universitaet Hamburg-Harburg,Shaker Verlag:Aachen].     

Thermal and hydraulic performance of a three-phase fluidized bed cooling tower

An experimental study was made of the thermal and hydraulic characteristics of a three-phase fluidized bed cooling tower. The experiments were carried out in a packed tower of 200 mm diameter and 2.5 m height. The packing used was spongy rubber balls 12.7 mm in diameter and with a density of 375 kg/m³. The tower characteristic was evaluated. The air-side pressure drop and the minimum fluidization velocity were measured as a function of water/air mass flux ratio (0.4–2), static bed height (300–500 mm), and hot water inlet temperature (301–334 K).

The experimental results indicate that the tower characteristics KaV/L increases with increases in the bed static height and hot water inlet temperature and with decreases in the water/air mass flux ratio. It is also shown that the air-side pressure drop increases very slowly with increases in air velocity. The minimum, fluidization velocity was found to be independent of the static bed height.

The data obtained were used to develop a correlation between the tower characteristics, hot water inlet temperature, static bed height, and the water/air mass flux ratio. The mass transfer coefficient of the three-phase fluidized bed cooling tower is much higher than that of packed-bed cooling towers with higher packing height.     

Numerical solution of a two-dimensional fluidized bed model

The numerical solution of a model describing a two-dimensional fluidized bed is considered. The model takes the form of a hyperbolic system of conservation laws with source term, coupled with an elliptic equation for determining a streamfunction. Operator splitting is used to produce homogeneous one-dimensional hyperbolic systems and ordinary differential equations involving the source term. The one-dimensional hyperbolic problems are solved using Roe's method with the addition of an entropy fix. The numerical procedure is second-order in time and first-order in space. Second-order-accuracy in space is obtained using flux limiting techniques. Numerical experiments which show the development of bubbles in the bed are presented. The familiar kidney-shaped bubble, observed experimentally, is found when using the method which is second-order in space. On the same mesh, the first-order method produces bubbles which are no longer kidney-shaped. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of flow regimes and determination of the boundaries for magnetized fluidized bed with Geldart-B particles

The magnetized fluidized bed (MFB) with Geldart-B particles exhibits many distinct flow regimes depending on the magnetic field intensity (H) and gas velocity (U_g). The identification of these regimes was reviewed for the MFB with magnetizable particles and that with binary admixture of magnetizable and nonmagnetizable particles. Meanwhile, methods for determining the boundaries between two adjacent flow regimes were clarified. The MFB state was found to depend not only on H and U_g but also on their application sequence (i.e., operation mode) within certain operating zones. The dependence feature arose from that the MFB therein could have different equilibrium states for the same combination of H and U_g. Furthermore, such a polymorphic characteristic of the MFB was revealed to result from the internal friction among the particles that were in unfluidized/packed state. Many of the MFB states were demonstrated to be in metastable equilibrium. Nevertheless, they differed significantly from the metastates well-known in the discipline of physical chemistry, such as supercooling and superheated. In fact, they belonged to the amorphous/glass state. This review will deepen our hydrodynamic understanding of the MFB and further promote its commercial application in the chemical and biochemical industries.     

Local solids flow structure in a countercurrent liquid-upward and solids-downward fluidized bed (CCLSFB) system

The local solids holdup and local particle velocity in a Countercurrent Liquid-upward and Solids-downward Fluidized Bed (CCLSFB) were investigated in details using optical fiber probes with two different models in a Plexiglas column of 1.5 m in height and 7.0 cm in inner diameter. A new flow regime map including fluidized bed, transition, and flooding regimes was established. The axial solids holdup distribution is almost uniform at low liquid velocity and/or solids flowrate and becomes less uniform with higher solids holdup at the top of the column after the operating liquid velocity is reaching the flooding velocity. The radial solids holdup profile is also nearly flat with a slightly lower solids holdup in the near-wall region at low liquid velocity and solids flowrate but becomes nonuniform as the operating liquid velocity approaches the flooding velocity. Two equations were also proposed to correlate radial local solids holdups. The descending particle velocity in CCLSFB increases with the decrease of the liquid velocity and the increase of the solids flowrate. A generally uniform particle velocity distribution was found in the axial direction, as well as in the radial direction except for a small decrease near the wall. These results on the local solids flow structure would provide basic information and theoretical supports for the design and industrial application of CCLSFB.     

Experimental investigation of cluster properties in dense gas-solid fluidized beds of different diameters

The local solid flow structure of a bubbling fluidized bed of sand particles was investigated m three different columns to characterize the properties of clusters. The experiments were performed using a reflective optical fiber probe. The variations in size, velocity, and void fraction of the clusters due to changes in the superficial gas velocity, particle size, and radial positions were studied. The results indicate that the velocity of the clusters remained unchanged while their size increased as the column diameter increased. In addition, the radial profile of the clusters＇ velocity did not depend on the radial position. The results indicate that larger particles form larger clusters, which move slower.     

Three-dimensional dynamic characterization of square-nosed slugging phenomena in a fluidized bed

Slugging represents one of the major regimes in fluidization, which occurs in small diameter beds with large bed height-to-diameter ratio or in large diameter beds with internals that resemble multiple small diameter fluidized beds. Slug types include round-nosed slug, wall slug and square-nosed slug. Studies of the slugs have been mainly focused on round-nosed or wall slugs known as half slug, typically occurring in Geldart group A particle fluidization. The square-nosed slug typically occurring for Geldart group D particles appears to be regarded as simple in its structure. The Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography (ECVT) imaging of the square-nosed slugging phenomena conducted in this study reveals otherwise. That is the structure of the square-nosed slug is, in fact, complex, particularly with respect to its dynamic variation in fluidization. More broadly, this study examines experimentally the hydrodynamic characteristics of the square-nosed fluidization regime. Specifically, simultaneous measurements from multiple ECVT sensors provide non-invasive, continuous, 3-dimensional imaging of the entire flow region of the slugging bed and hence enabling the dynamic characterization of the evolution of the slugs. The analysis of the 3D images reconstructed for real-time gas–solid volume fraction profile of the slugging fluidized bed indicates that there are three different zones, namely, the bottom fluidization zone, the gas slug zone, and the solid slug zone, co-existing in the bed. The three zones present different hydrodynamic characteristics during the slug evolution. It is found that varying the gas velocity of the slugging bed mainly varies the maximum length of the gas slug zone, while it only has a minor effect on the lengths of the bottom fluidization zone and solid slug zone. It also has an insignificant effect on the solid volume fraction of the three zones.     

Melting heat transfer along a horizontal heated tube immersed in a fluidized liquid ice bed

An experimental study was performed to determine the melting heat transfer characteristics along a horizontal heated circular tube immersed in a solid-air-liquid three-phase fluidized liquid ice bed. A mixture of fine ice particles and ethylene glycol acqueous solution was adopted as the liquid ice for the test. Measurements were carried out for a range of parameters such as airflow rate, heated tube diameter, and initial concentration of acqueous binary solution. It was found that the heat transfer coefficient for the fluidized liquid ice bed might be more than 20 times as large as that for the fixed liquid ice bed.     

Operating range of magnetic stabilization flow regime for magnetized fluidized bed with Geldart-B magnetizable and nonmagnetizable particles

The magnetic stabilization flow regime could also be created for Geldart-B nonmagnetizable particles provided some magnetizable particles are introduced and the magnetic field is applied. This study aimed to explore the size (d_pM) and density (Ͽ_pM) effects of magnetizable particles on its operating range. The upper limit (U_mbH) could not be determined from the οP_b⿿U_g⿿ curve but could from analyzing the variation of οP_b-fluctuation with increasing U_g. Due to the variation of U_mfH (lower limit) with d_pM and Ͽ_pM, both U_mbH⿿U_mfH and (U_mbH⿿U_mfH)/U_mfH were used to quantify the operating range of magnetic stabilization. U_mbH⿿U_mfH varied hardly with d_pM but increased significantly with decreasing Ͽ_pM. (U_mbH⿿U_mfH)/U_mfH increased as d_pM or Ͽ_pM decreased. It was more difficult for the nonmagnetizable particles to escape from the network formed by the smaller/lighter magnetizable particles. For the same magnitude of change, d_pM had a stronger effect than Ͽ_pM on (U_mbH⿿U_mfH)/U_mfH. Neither U_mbH⿿U_mfH nor (U_mbH⿿U_mfH)/U_mfH varied monotonously with the minimum fluidization velocity of the magnetizable particles, indicating that no straightforward criterion for matching the magnetizable particles to the given nonmagnetizable particles could be established based on their minimum fluidization velocities to maximize the operating range of magnetic stabilization.     

Reactive gas-solids flows in large volumes--3D modeling of industrial circulating fluidized bed combustors

A model is presented for the simulation of reactive gas-solids flows in large industrial reactors. Circulating fluidized bed （CFB） combustors with several thousands of cubic meters reaction volume are probably the largest reactors of this type. A semi-empirical modeling approach has been chosen to model the three-dimensional concentration distributions of gas and solids components and temperatures inside the combustion chamber of such boilers. Two industrial CFB boilers are investigated in detail： the 105 MWe Duisburg combustor in Germany and the 235 MWe Turow combustor in Poland. The semi-empirical model approach is described first. Then the model is used to show how the three-dimensional concentration and temperature fields are formed by the interaction of several local phenomena. Good agreement between simulation and measurements has been achieved.