Analysis of a Vortexing Circulating Fluidized Bed for Process Intensification Via High-G Flows

Abstract

Fluidized beds are used in many industries where gas–solid reactions are present for their favorable characteristics of good solids mixing, high heat, and mass transfer rates, and large throughputs. In an attempt to increase throughput, reduce reactor footprints, and reduce costs, process intensification by unconventional reactor designs is being pursued. Specifically, this work focuses on the development of high-G reactors where the particles are experiencing a centripetal force typically on the order of ten times the force of gravity. This operating regime provides intensified gas–solids contact providing higher mass transfer, heat transfer, and gas throughput than a typical fluidized bed. This work focuses analysis of a cold flow vortexing circulating fluidized bed (CFB). Through mapping the pressure distributions in the riser, insights into the behavior of the system were made and compared to CPFD Barracuda computational fluid dynamic models. The simulation results outlined the working envelope of the system and provided a baseline to compare the experimental results. The experimental pressure data determined angular velocities of the gas in the range of 30–40 m/s, with corresponding particle velocities around 15 m/s.