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Title: Full-scale cold-flow modelling of the SRC-I slurry fired heater at Creare, Inc. mixing and 1/sup 0/ downslope studies

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6944919· OSTI ID:6944919

One of the major pieces of equipment in the SRC-I Demonstration Plant is the slurry fired heater. Because of the absence of any plant data at comparable combinations of operating severity, a cold-flow modelling experimental program was initiated at Creare, Inc. The first phase of the test program confirmed the fired heater design and established reliable boundaries of flow rates for proper operation of the fired heater. An experimental setup was designed and built at Creare to duplicate the piping arrangement and flow conditions of the fired heater. The pipe dimensions, flow rates, and fluid properties were selected to minimize areas of scale-up and extrapolation. This follow-up test program was developed to resolve concerns raised from the observations made in the first phase. Tests were conducted to establish the extent of mixing between the liquid carpet and the fast-moving liquid slugs above it. The other segment of the test program was designed to develop the flow regime and pressure drop data in the 1/sup 0/ downslope configuration. The results demonstrated a significant amount of mixing between the liquid carpet and the liquid slugs for water and the 400-cP fluid at the design flow conditions. The extent of mixing improved with increasing liquid and gas velocities and decreasing liquid viscosities. Adequate mixing was observed at liquid flow rates as low as 50% of the design flow conditions. Slug flow was observed at design conditions in the 1/sup 0/ downslope configuration. Although adequate mixing is expected in heater pipes, different techniques should be investigated to improve the extent of mixing, especially near the transition boundary. 4 references, 5 figures, 8 tables.

Research Organization:
International Coal Refining Co., Allentown, PA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-78OR03054
OSTI ID:
6944919
Report Number(s):
DOE/OR/03054-102; ON: DE84015652
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English