Turbulent beds

The turbulent fluidized bed has a similar or slightly lower soHds volume fraction than the vigorously bubbling bed. There is considerable transport of soHds out of the turbulent bed and the bed level is not very distinct. Large-scale cyclones are needed to return soHds to the bed. On average, the bed inventory passes through the cyclones several times per hour. 

In comparison, units that are designed with turbulent beds have a lower superficial velocity limit because of soflds entrainment and are unable to independently control the entrained soflds recycle. The soflds loading in the turbulent-bed regenerator configuration are equal to the reactor—regenerator circulation plus the entrained soflds via the cyclone diplegs. 

Fig. 8. Theoretical residence time distributions A, combustor style approach to plug flow B, turbulent bed (100% backmixed).

The overall benefits of this high efficiency combustor over a conventional bubbling- or turbulent-bed regenerator are enhanced and controlled carbon-bum kinetics (carbon on regenerated catalyst at less than 0.05 wt %) ease of start-up and routiae operabiUty uniform radial carbon and temperature profiles limited afterbum ia the upper regenerator section and uniform cyclone temperatures and reduced catalyst iaventory and air-blower horsepower. By 1990, this design was well estabUshed. More than 30 units are ia commercial operation. 

Internal Regenerator Bed Colls. Internal cods generate high overall heat-transfer coefficients [550 W / (m -K)] and typically produce saturated steam up to 4.6 MPa (667 psi). Lower heat fluxes are attained when producing superheated steam. The tube banks are normally arranged horizontally in rows of three or four, but because of their location in a continuously active bubbling or turbulent bed, they offer limited duty flexibdity with no shutdown or start-up potential. 

The term three-phase fluidization requires some explanation, as it can be used to describe a variety of rather different operations. The three phases are gas, liquid and particulate solids, although other variations such as two immiscible liquids and particulate solids may exist in special applications. As in the case of a fixed-bed operation, both co-current and counter- current gas-liquid flow are permissible and, for each of these, both bubble flow, in which the liquid is the continuous phase and the gas dispersed, and trickle flow, in which the gas forms a continuous phase and the liquid is more or less dispersed, takes place. A well established device for countercurrent trickle flow, in which low-density solid spheres are fluidized by an upward current of gas and irrigated by a downward flow of liquid, is variously known as the turbulent bed, mobile bed and fluidized packing contactor, or the turbulent contact absorber when it is specifically used for gas absorption and/or dust removal. Still another variation is a three-phase spouted bed contactor. 

Technology Description Fluidized bed incinerators utilize a very turbulent bed of inert granular material (usually sand) to improve the transfer of heat to the waste streams to be incinerated. Air is blown through the granular bed materials until they are "suspended" and able to move and mix in a manner similar to a fluid, i.e., they are "fluidized".In this manner, the heated bed particles come in intimate contact with the wastes being burned. The process requires that the waste be fed into multiple injection ports for successful treatment. Advantages... 

The 1970 s also brought about increased use of three-phase systems in environmental applications. A three-phase fluidized bed system, known as the Turbulent Bed Contactor, was commercially used in the 1970 s to remove sulfur dioxide and particulates from flue gas generated by coal combustion processes. This wet scrubbing process experienced several... 

A potential source of particulates is char formed when the biomass feedstock is incompletely gasified. These particles undergo devolatilization and subsequent reactions at gasification temperatures that leave them less reactive than fresh biomass feedstock. They can pass through the gasifier before they are completely gasified, particularly in those configurations with turbulent beds. Char entrained in the product gas also represents unconverted biomass that contributes to lower conversion efficiencies. 

At higher gas velocities a turbulent bed is formed, in which the gas voids have irregular shapes and channelling may occur. This fluidization... 

Freeboard and Entrainment The freeboard or disengaging height is the distance between the top of the fluid bed and the gas-exit nozzle in bubbling- or turbulent-bed units. The distinction between bed and freeboard is difficult to determine in fast and transport units (see Fig. 17-6). 

Fluidized-bed combustion is a process in which fuel or waste is burned in a turbulent bed of heated particles, normally sand, which is suspended (fluidized) by combustion air. A fluidized bed is a bed of granular particles through which a flow of gas passes upwards. The particles are suspended in the upwardly flowing stream and have the appearance of a boiling liquid. 

A Study of a Fluidized Turbulent Bed Contactor with Application to Cooling Towers... 

Performance and Design of a Turbulent Bed (Contactor (TBC)) Cooling Tower... 

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