A NEW SCALING STRATEGY OF BUBBLING FLUIDIZED BED REACTORS BASED ON POPULATION-BALANCE MODEL

This work proposes a new strategy for the scaling of bubbling fluidized bed reactors. This strategy is based on the bubble size distribution, bubble coalescence phenomenon, and the chemical reactivity, allowing to deduct the dimensionless number Chejne-Macias-Maya that must remain constant at different scales to guarantee the fluidization regime. The proposed strategy is validated from computational simulations carried out at different operating conditions. Additionally, limits for the validity of this scaling strategy were determined, which agrees with those reported in the literature.

Comparison of the Fluidized State Stability from Radioactive Particle Tracking Results

Currently, various industrial processes are carried out in fluidized bed reactors. Knowing its internal dynamics is fundamental for the intensification of these processes. This work assesses the motion of fluidized calcium alginate spheres under the influence of an upward fluid flow within a 1.2 m high and 0.1 m inner diameter acrylic column. The liquid–solid fluidized bed was compared with a gas–liquid–solid fluidized bed operation mode in terms of mixing behavior. The radioactive particle tracking technique is a proper methodology to study the internal dynamics of these kinds of equipment. Data gathered were analyzed with Shannon entropy as a dynamic mixing measure. Mixing times were found to be between 1 and 2.5 seconds for both fluidization modes. The liquid–solid fluidized bed presents a rather smooth mixing time profile along the column. On the other hand, the gas–liquid–solid fluidized bed showed high sensitivity of entropy production with height, reaching a sharp tendency break at the second quartile of the column. The Glansdorff–Prigogine stability measure can accurately capture flow regime transitions of the gas–liquid–solid fluidized bed, allowing it to be used to construct reliable operative windows for fluidization equipment.

The Use of Limestones Built of Carbonate Phases with Increased Mg Content in Processes of Flue Gas Desulfurization

The purpose of this article was to present the theory of the possibility of using limestone sorbents containing carbonate minerals with increased Mg content in processes of flue gas desulfurization in power stations. Data obtained as a result of the conducted research show that the analyzed Triassic (Muschelkalk) limestones of the south-west part of Poland are built of the following carbonate minerals: low magnesium calcite, high magnesium calcite, dolomite and huntite. These carbonate minerals are characterized by various magnesium contents. The increased content of magnesium in the sorbent has a positive effect on the technological process of flue gas desulfurization using the dry method, especially in the case of desulfurization with the application of Fluidized Bed Reactors. The positive influence of magnesium’s presence in sorbent in the desulfurization process is connected with the decarbonization of carbonate phases with magnesium at temperatures similar to the dolomite decarbonization temperatures, which are, thus, lower than typical for low magnesium calcite. The process would be easier because the structure of a solid solution containing magnesium ions, with a smaller ion radius to calcium ions, is unstable and the decomposition of these phases runs easier and faster. Therefore, the desulfurization process starts earlier and is more effective.