Investigation on influences of loose gas on gas-solid flows in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactor using full-loop numerical simulation

Abstract

Abstract The influences of loose gas on gas-solid flows in a large-scale circulating fluidized bed (CFB) gasification reactor were investigated using full-loop numerical simulation. The two-fluid model was coupled with the QC-energy minimization in multi-scale theory (EMMS) gas-solid drag model to simulate the fluidization in the CFB reactor. Effects of the loose gas flow rate, Q, on the solid mass circulation rate and the cyclone separation efficiency were analyzed. The study found different effects depending on Q: First, the particles in the loop seal and the standpipe tended to become more densely packed with decreasing loose gas flow rate, leading to the reduction in the overall circulation rate. The minimum Q that can affect the solid mass circulation rate is about 2.5% of the fluidized gas flow rate. Second, the sealing gas capability of the particles is enhanced as the loose gas flow rate decreases, which reduces the gas leakage into the cyclones and improves their separation efficiency. The best loose gas flow rates are equal to 2.5% of the fluidized gas flow rate at the various supply positions. In addition, the cyclone separation efficiency is correlated with the gas leakage to predict the separation efficiency during industrial operation.