Scribd
Upload
58 views16 pages

Lecture 5 Fluidized - Bed - Reactor

Fluidized bed reactors (FBR) use a fluid to fluidize a granular catalyst within the reactor. This allows for excellent heat and mass transfer, making FBRs suitable for carrying out exothermic reactions like catalytic cracking. FBRs are generally very large to accommodate high fluid flow rates needed to suspend the catalyst particles, which range from 10-300 microns. They also have separate regeneration compartments to restore the catalyst. While FBRs provide benefits like uniform temperature and contact, they have disadvantages such as higher costs and potential for particle entrainment. Common applications include catalytic cracking and chemical productions like phthalic anhydride.

Uploaded by

Robinson A
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
58 views16 pages

Lecture 5 Fluidized - Bed - Reactor

Fluidized bed reactors (FBR) use a fluid to fluidize a granular catalyst within the reactor. This allows for excellent heat and mass transfer, making FBRs suitable for carrying out exothermic reactions like catalytic cracking. FBRs are generally very large to accommodate high fluid flow rates needed to suspend the catalyst particles, which range from 10-300 microns. They also have separate regeneration compartments to restore the catalyst. While FBRs provide benefits like uniform temperature and contact, they have disadvantages such as higher costs and potential for particle entrainment. Common applications include catalytic cracking and chemical productions like phthalic anhydride.

Uploaded by

Robinson A
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 16

FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR

Fluidized bed reactors (FBR) are catalytic reactors in which the catalyst is
fluidized within the reactor.
FLUIDIZATION

- Fluidization (or fluidisation) is a process similar to liquefaction whereby a


granular material is converted from a static solid-like state to a dynamic
fluid-like state.

- This process occurs when a fluid (liquid or gas) is passed up through the
granular material.
FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR

- A fluidized-bed reactor is a combination of the two most common, packed-bed


and stirred tank, continuous flow reactors.

- Excellent heat and mass transfer characteristics. Suitable to carry out


exothermic reactions

- Used to carry out a variety of chemical reactions


Equipment Design
Before the reactor is started the catalyst pellets lie on a grate at the bottom of the
reactor. Reactants are pumped into the reactor through a distributor continuously,
causing the bed to become fluidized. The bed’s behavior after initial fluidization
depends on the state of the reactant. If it is a liquid, the bed expands uniformly
with increased upward flow of the reactant. This is called homogenous
fluidization. If the reactant is a gas, the bed will be non-uniform because the gas
forms bubbles in the bed, resulting in aggregative fluidization. Sometimes these
bubbles in coarse materials can grow larger than two-thirds of the bed’s diameter,
which can cause slugging. Slugging can result in variable pressures, vibrations in
the bed, and heat transfer reductions. Increasing the velocity of the gas leads to a
turbulent regime, as shown below. In the fast fluidization regime, the bed surface
starts to disappear. Increasing the gas velocity further results in pneumatic
transport, in which the bed is completely removed and the particles are uniformly
spaced in the fluid. During this process the reactants react due to the presence of
the catalyst pellets, forming products that are removed continuously.
Fluidized bed reactors are generally very large.
They must be designed so that the fluid flow
rate is sufficient to suspend the catalyst
particles. The particles typically range in size
from 10 – 300 microns.
When designing a fluidized bed reactor, the
catalyst life must also be taken into account.
Most fluidized bed reactors, such as the one
shown here have a separate compartment to
regenerate the catalyst.
THE WORKING PRINCIPLE
- The reactor contains calibrated silica ( liquid-like state) by the injection of air and
gas.

- The objects to be cleaned, loosely stacked

- For insertion of the part, the reactor has been heated up to a temperature in the
range of 420 – 460 ˚C.

- In this condition, the suspended silica becomes a very powerful reactor, strongly
oxidize any organic material.
- Once the sand has reached the stand-by temperature the parts carrier can
be submerged in the sand.

- In the first phase of the cleaning cycle, occurs between 10 and 30 minutes
and organic compounds and binders evaporates due to intense contact with
hot silica

- The remaining heavier hydrocarbons are completely oxidized

- While the inert fraction of the contamination is blown out of the reactor as
all organic binders have vanished.
- During the second phase, a light mechanical cleaning action caused by
the bubbling sand will sustain the cleaning process.

- After an average of one hour, the two phase cleaning process is finished:
the organic fraction is eliminated, and the inert fraction is blown out of the
reactor with the exhaust gases.
ADVANTAGES
- Uniform Particle Mixing:
reaction efficiency and quality.

- Uniform Temperature Gradients:


Local hot or cold spots within the reaction bed

- Ability to Operate Reactor in Continuous State: continuous process


- Catalyst is easily replaced or regenerated..
- More efficient contacting of gas and solid than in other catalytic reactors
DISADVANTAGES
- Increased Reactor Vessel Size: Because of the expansion of the bed materials in
the reactor, high initial capital costs.

- Pumping Requirements and Pressure Drop: more pumping power and thus higher
energy costs are needed.

- Particle Entrainment: The high gas velocities present in reactor often result in
fine particles becoming entrained in the fluid, they must be separated.

- Attrition, break-up of catalyst pellets due to impact against reactor walls, can
occur.
- Lack of Current Understanding: It is very difficult to predict and calculate the
complex mass and heat flows within the bed.

- Erosion of Internal Components: The behaviour of the fine solid particles


within the bed eventually results in the wear of the reactor vessel.

- Pressure Loss Scenarios: If fluidization pressure is suddenly lost, the surface


area of the bed may be suddenly reduced.
- Expensive to construct and maintain.
- Catalyst may be deactivated.
- Can’t be used with catalyst solids that won’t flow freely.
Applications
Fluidized bed reactors are commonly used in catalytic cracking processes.

They are also used in the oxidation of naphthalene to phthalic anhydride,


roasting of sulfide ores, coking of petroleum residues, and the calcination of
limestone.

They are often used when there is a need for large amounts of heat input or
output, or when closely controlled temperatures are required.
- Petroleum Applications
Most of the products below are either fuels or are used in the manufacturing
of fuels:
Gasolines
Aviation Fuel
Propane
Butane
- Petrochemical Applications :
Acetone Recovery
Aniline from Nitrobenzene
Ethanol from Butadiene
Hydrogen from Steam

- Other applications :
Fertilizers from Coal
Oil Decontamination of Sand
Industrial and Municipal Waste Treatment
Radioactive Waste Solidification

You might also like