Determination of standpipe pressure profiles and slide valve orifice discharge coefficients on synthol circulating fluidized-bed reactors

Abstract

A Synthol Circulating Fluidized-Bed (CFB) reactor utilizes a finely divided, reduced iron oxide catalyst to convert (CO + H 2) to gaseous and liquid fuels. The reactor consists essentially of a fast-fluidized bed with a hopper and standpipe providing a pressure seal sufficient to maintain a high catalyst inventory in the reaction zone. For optimum reactor operation, the catalyst must flow down the standpipe in the dense-phase fluidized-flow regime so giving maximum pressure recovery. Tests carried out on the Sasol 1 commercial reactors showed that the dense-phase flow regime could be maintained with minimal use of added aeration. Work carried out on a large cold-model hopper and standpipe showed that added aeration was vital in maintaining dense-phase flow and in achieving a high pressure recovery. The relatively high pressure operation of the commercial reactors and consequent low compression effect going down the standpipe is such that the entrapped aeration entering the standpipe is sufficient to prevent a flow regime transition to a packed bed. Orifice discharge coefficients determined on the commercial reactors and the cold model agreed closely with values reported in the literature.