Particle Velocity Distribution in a Novel Draft Tube-Lifted Gassolid Air Loop Reactor

Abstract

The hydrodynamics in a gas-solid draft tube-lifted air-loop reactor (GSALR) was investigated systematically using experimental measurements. To demonstrate the gas-solid flow pattern, the upward particle velocity, downward particle velocity and time-averaged particle velocity in four regions of the GSALR were measured by optical fiber probe under different superficial gas velocities. The experimental results show that the downward particle velocity distributes uniformly along the radius in the four regions, but the radial distributions of upward particle velocity and time-averaged particle velocity are core-annulus or heterogeneous structure in the three regions (distributor affect region, draft tube, gas-solid diffluence region), which have the common feature of aggregative fluidization occurred in normal fluidized beds. The operating condition such as superficial gas velocity in draft tube has different effects on the radial distributions of upward particle velocity, downward particle velocity and time-averaged particle velocity in each region. Analysis of the distributions of upward particle velocity, downward particle velocity and time-averaged particle velocity leads to suggestions regarding optimization of the design and provides further theoretical basis for industry application of GSALR.