Towards responsive gas-solid operations: Oscillating and vortex flows

Abstract

Working towards a circular economy requires the ability to introduce clean energy sources, new vectors and storage methods into classic process infrastructure. An efficient contact between gases and solids is at the core of this task across manufacturing, environmental and energy sectors. New integrated processes start to move away from the use of the classic unit operations in chemical engineering into more flexible, multifunctional units, but intensified contact chambers are often too specialised. New design concepts must focus not only on the efficiency of a device, but in creating robust, flexible solutions that can adapt to changing targets and perform multiple functions to widen the scope of advanced optimization and control strategies. In this work, I briefly discuss the role of responsive devices in the design of sustainable processes involving gas-solid flows, and I provide a quick overview of the role of structured fluidization paying special attention to two promising pathways: dynamically structured oscillating fluidised beds that deliver homogeneous, responsive, and scalable solid mixing at low velocity, and the potential evolution of emerging vortex devices into rotational “moving” beds working at high interfacial velocity.