Fluidized bed sintering in TiO2 and coke systems

Abstract

This paper reports on experimental tests aimed at studying the influence of operating conditions on the fluidization behaviour of petroleum coke mixed with different titanium ores industrial reactive powders.The fluidization behaviour of several mixtures have been studied at process temperatures ranging from ambient up to 950 °C in a specially designed heated fluid-bed reactor, where the early stages of the sintering process were experimentally simulated.Fundamental fluidization tests were performed using a unique high power pulsed X-ray imaging facility available at UCL, which enabled to visualise the internal flow pattern inside the metallic reactor and to obtain quantitative information about the fluidization behaviour of the systems investigated. Simultaneous measurements of local temperatures and pressure drops across the bed were carried out in order to detect possible agglomeration and sintering phenomena. The tests showed that operating conditions and coke characteristics combined can play a significant role on the formation of agglomerates and their properties. The resulting lumps of agglomerated particles were collected and systematically characterized to determine their properties and the chemical compositions of the sintered bonds formed.