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U.S. Department of Energy
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Hydrodynamical basis for scaling fluidization data on jet penetration and mixing relevant to fluidized bed coal gasifiers. Final report, August 14, 1981-December 31, 1984

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5362699
The objective of this research is to develop, using hydrodynamic theories of fluidization, correlations of existing data that will be useful for the scaleup of fluidized bed coal gasifiers. A specific emphasis is upon the jet penetration and the associated mixing produced by gas injection into a fluidized bed. The research has demonstrated that the basic objective of this project, namely, the use of hydrodynamical theories of fluidization to correlate fluidization data on jet penetration and mixing, is realistic and can be achieved. A review and compilation of published data relating to jet penetration and mixing has been completed. This review has included experiments on jet penetration and bubble formation, bubble motion, gas transport and entrainment by jets, and particles transport and entrainment by jets. The continuum multiphase theory of fluidization is proposed as a mathematical description of fluidization. We use spatial averaging techniques and derive continuum (hydrodynamic) equations for the balance of mass, momentum and energy for the gas and solid phases in the fluidized bed. This continuum multiphase theory embodies as a special case the concepts associated with the two phase theory of fluidization. The continuum multiphase theory of fluidization is used to provide the analytic frame for correlating data on jet penetration and mixing. Specifically, we develop new correlations for two categories of data: jet penetration and bubble motion. The equations are also used to provide a description of minimum fluidization, and in particular, of the minimum fluidizing velocity. Finally, the present analysis and the associated correlations suggests the importance of the Stokes number in correlating fluidization data. 99 refs.
Research Organization:
Massachusetts Univ., Amherst (USA). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; West Virginia Univ., Morgantown (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
DOE Contract Number:
AC21-81MC16440
OSTI ID:
5362699
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/16440-1937; ON: DE85016603
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English