Bench-scale testing, characterization

Bench-scale reaction-to-fire tests are used to characterize the behavior of materials under more severe thermal exposure conditions that are representative of the growing pre-flashover stage of a compartment fire. These tests essentially determine how a material responds to the temperatures and heat fluxes in a growing fire. In these tests, the fire conditions are simulated with a radiant panel or by inserting the specimen into a small furnace. A pilot may be used to ignite the flammable gases and vapors that are generated as a result of thermal decomposition of the... 

Of the several approaches that have been used to calculate fuel generation rates from solid materials in CFD-based fire growth calculations, the simplest are empirical models. Instead of attempting to model the physical processes that lead to gaseous fuel production inside decomposing solids, empirical data that can be measured (transient heat release or mass loss rate) or inferred (heat of gasification) from common bench-scale fire tests such as the Cone Calorimeter are used to characterize fuel generation processes. 

Standard tests consisted of proximate, ultimate, higher heating value, ash composition, ash fusibility temperatures, Hardgrove grindability, and screen analyses. Special bench scale characterization tests consisted of micro-proximate analysis and micro-ultimate analysis (C, H, N) micro-proximate and micro-ultimate analyses were performed on particulate samples collected from varying stages of combustion in the DTFS and CMHF. In addition, selected samples of SRC and chars from partial combustion or pyrolysis of the SRC were submitted for Thermo-Gravimetric analyses. 

Catalysts regenerated by methods (A) and (B) are evaluated on the basis of bench-scale activity tests, characterization of catalyst physical and chemical properties, and physical integrity tests, such as particle attrition resistance,... 

I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the process engineers, and pilot plant and catalyst characterization people at PDVSA-Intevep, especially Jose Arroyo who did the bench scale catalytic tests. In particular, I thank Prof. Hercules who performed the XPS study and Z. Gabellica who carried out the AI-NMR studies. I would also like to thank Intevep for permission to publish this information. 

To check the behavior of SCR elements they have to be tested at regular intervals. For this purpose a test programme was developed which includes catalyst activity and selectivity tests in a bench-scale system with surface analysis and characterization of catalysts using highly sensitive surface techniques. By combining these experimental techniques valuable information on ageing and fouling processes on the catalysts is obtained. 

This DOE-sponsored research involves both ANL activities and subcontracted work. Argonne Is performing closely controlled laboratory-scale parametric tests. The work Is being performed on two experimental facilities (1) a TGA to study the thermal degradation versus temperature, and (2) a bench-scale reactor to produce significant quantities of products to permit characterization. The goal Is to determine how different operating parameters Influence the product compositions. 

Figure 11.24 reports characterization tests on tar samples from the bench-scale gasification runs results with a catalytic filter candle are compared to that without it among the various tar species, toluene appears the more prevailing compound following catalytic reformation [102]. 

This improved reactor concept is characterized by the advantage that a comparably small number of technical catalyst bodies can be tested under the realistic contact time conditions of the respective industrial process. However, the considerably improved heat transfer properties of this reactor concept allow fuUy isothermal test conditions which cannot be achieved by conventional laboratory bench-scale units (high dilution is needed, which leads to bypassing). ... 

Table 12.12 shows the operating conditions for the different experiments conducted at bench-scale. Some feedstocks were prepared by blending various streams as indicated in the table. Table 12.13 describes the catalysts used in the experiments. Table 12.14 reports the characterization of the feed and product for each hydrotreating test. Global mass balances for all experiments showed an error lower than 0.8%, while the global hydrogen balances presented an error lower than 1%. Therefore, the experimental data obtained from the HDT of petroleum fractions can reliably be used to determine the hydrogen consumption. 

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