Particle Motion in the Vicinity of the Wall of Circulating Fluidized Beds

Abstract

High-density circulating fluidized beds (CFB) differ in several respects from low-density CFB systems. In high-density CFB risers, solids move upward throughout the entire riser cross-section, and the net downflow of particles at the wall, a commonly observed feature of fast fluidized beds, is absent. Hence there exists a transition regime from the low density to high density CFB where the net particle motion in the vicinity of the wall is changing from downwards to upwards. This was confirmed by experiments carried in a dual-loop high-density CFB facility with concentric-tube heat exchanger installed in the riser. Local suspension-to-wall heat transfer coefficient and suspension temperature distribution below and above the heat exchange section were measured. Experimental results elucidated that particles move both upwards and downwards in the vicinity of the wall for the operation conditions studied. This alternation of direction leads to higher heat transfer coefficients at both ends of the heat exchange.