ECI Digital Archives

Title

Experimental and simulation study on heat transfer in fluidized beds with heat production: An integrated DIA/PIV/IR technique and CFD-DEM

Authors

Zizi Li, Eindhoven University of Technology; Dept. Chemical Engineering and Chemistry; Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) , The NetherlandsFollow
Tom C.E. Janssen, Eindhoven University of Technology; Dept. Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Martin van Sint Annaland, Eindhoven University of Technology; Dept. Chemical Engineering and Chemistry; Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) , The Netherlands
J.A.M. Kuipers, Eindhoven University of Technology; Dept. Chemical Engineering and Chemistry; Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) , The Netherlands
Niels G. Deen, Eindhoven University of Technology; Dept. Chemical Engineering and Chemistry; Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) , The Netherlands

Conference Dates

May 22-27, 2016

Abstract

As a result of highly exothermic reactions taking place in gas-phase olefin polymerization fluidized bed reactors, difficulties concerning the heat management play an important role in the optimization of these reactors. To get a better understanding of the particle temperature distribution in fluidized beds, a high speed infrared (IR) camera and a visual camera have been coupled to obtain the hydrodynamics and thermal aspects of a pseudo-2D fluidized bed (1), as shown in figure 1. The hydrodynamics are characterized by digital image analysis and particle image velocimetry (DIA/PIV) and the heat properties by IR. The experimental data is used to validate an in-house developed computational fluid dynamics and discrete element model (CFD-DEM). In order to mimic the heat effect due to the exothermic polymerization reaction in the pseudo-2D fluidized bed reactor, a model system was used. In this model system, heat is released in zeolite 13X particles (1.8~2.0 mm) due the adsorption of CO­₂. Characteristics of the adsorption kinetics, isotherm and reaction enthalpy have been achieved by performing Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA). By feeding gas mixtures of CO­₂ and N₂ uniformly to the reactor, the rate of adsorption can be controlled in order to obtain a pseudo-steady state of heat production in the bed. The combined technique provides insightful information on the particle temperature distribution for different CO₂ concentrations, bed aspect ratios and background superficial velocities. Furthermore, the comparison of the spatial and temporal distribution of the particle temperature distribution in fluidized beds with the simulation results of CFD-DEM provides qualitative and quantitative validation of the CFD-DEM, in particular concerning the thermal aspects.

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Recommended Citation

Zizi Li, Tom C.E. Janssen, Martin van Sint Annaland, J.A.M. Kuipers, and Niels G. Deen, "Experimental and simulation study on heat transfer in fluidized beds with heat production: An integrated DIA/PIV/IR technique and CFD-DEM" in "Fluidization XV", Jamal Chaouki, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada Franco Berruti, Wewstern University, Canada Xiaotao Bi, UBC, Canada Ray Cocco, PSRI Inc. USA Eds, ECI Symposium Series, (2016). https://dc.engconfintl.org/fluidization_xv/70