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Circulating Fluidized Beds

Circulating fluidized beds are useful for processes involving solid particles, such as catalysts, ores, or particles undergoing drying. They allow for contact between upward-flowing gas and downward-flowing particles. A circulating fluidized bed consists of a tall vessel with mechanisms for introducing particles near the bottom, an upward gas flow to entrain particles, and a particle separator and return system. Unlike fixed or fluidized beds, circulating fluidized beds operate in a fast fluidization regime with no distinct upper surface, and particles circulate continuously between the riser and separator.

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26 views2 pages

Circulating Fluidized Beds

Circulating fluidized beds are useful for processes involving solid particles, such as catalysts, ores, or particles undergoing drying. They allow for contact between upward-flowing gas and downward-flowing particles. A circulating fluidized bed consists of a tall vessel with mechanisms for introducing particles near the bottom, an upward gas flow to entrain particles, and a particle separator and return system. Unlike fixed or fluidized beds, circulating fluidized beds operate in a fast fluidization regime with no distinct upper surface, and particles circulate continuously between the riser and separator.

Uploaded by

Anup Nair
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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CIRCULATING FLUIDIZED BEDS

Solid particles are often of great interest in the chemical process industry, mineral processing, pharmaceutical production, energy related processes, etc. In some cases the particles serve as catalysts for reacting gases and/or liquids. In other cases, as in ore processing, the particles must be chemically converted. In still other processes the particles must undergo physical transformation, as in drying of particulate solids. A number of possible configurations are available for carrying out such reactions and contacting operations. For example, combustion processes, there have long been competing technologies based on fixed beds (or moving pac ed beds !here the particles travel slo!ly do!n!ard in contact !ith each other", fluidi#ed beds (!here the particles are supported by gas or liquid introduced through a distributor at the bottom of a vessel" and dilute phase transport systems (!here the particles are conveyed through a duct or pipe". $he circulating fluidi#ed bed has come to prominence in the past t!o decades in terms of ma%or applications. A typical configuration for a &F' reactor is sho!n schematically in Figure (.). *equired are a tall vessel, a means of introducing particles (often simply called +solids," usually near the bottom, a sufficient up!ard flo! of fluid (generally a gas, but a liquid or a gas-liquid mixture is also possible" to cause substantial entrainment of particles from the top of the vessel, and a means of capturing a substantial ma%ority of these particles and returning them continuously to the bottom. $he term circulating signifies that the particle separation and return systems are integral and essential components of the overall reactor configuration. $he !ords fluidized bed denote the fact that the particles are supported by the fluid, !hile there is a substantial suspension density. .ote that there is unli ely to be a true +bed, in the normal sense/ in particular, most circulating fluidi#ed beds operate in the so-called fast fluidization hydrodynamic regime !here there is no distinct or recogni#able upper bed surface.

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2.1 Distinguishing Characters A gas-solids t!o-phase vertical flo! system !ithout mechanical restraint can be operated in three modes1 co-current upflo!, co-current do!nflo! and counter-current flo! !ith gas flo!ing up!ard as sho!n in Figure (.(. A circulating fluidi#ed bed sho!n in Figure (.) resembles a bottom restraint system in !hich solids are prevented from escaping from the bottom. At lo! solids feed rates, all in%ected particles are carried up!ard giving cocurrent up!ard flo!. 2hen the solids feed rate is increased to such an extent that the up!ard flo! collapses due to saturation of solids entrainment, excess particles fall do!n!ard and a dense region forms in the bottom section of the riser. A circulating fluidi#ed bed can thus be operated in either a co-current up!ard flo! mode or fast fluidi#ation mode, depending on the gas velocity and solids circulation rate.

Figure 2.1 $ypical configuration for circulating fluidi#ed bed system

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