An experimental investigation of wall-bed heat transfer and flow characteristics in a swirling fluidized bed reactor

Abstract

The present work investigates the heat transfer between the immersed heater and bed and hydrodynamics of the bed in swirling fluidized bed. The heat transfer process and bed hydrodynamics characteristics for swirling fluidized bed reactor (SFBR) were compared to those of conventional fluidized bed reactor (CFBR). Then the influence of particle diameter on the bed flow characteristics and heat transfer process in SFBR were studied. The heat transfer coefficient was calculated at different superficial air velocities, radial positions, and bed heights. Compared to a CFBR, the bed pressure drop and distributor pressure drop for SFBR were lower, that characterizes swirling bed reactor. The heat transfer coefficient of SFBR was higher than the corresponding of CFBR at lower portion of the bed and it was lower at the upper portion of the bed for all radial positions and for all air superficial velocities. Increasing particle diameter in SFBR resulted in decreasing both the heat transfer coefficient and bed pressure drop.