Flow visualization in a swirling fluidized bed
A swirling fluidized bed (SFB) is known to yield high a solid-fluid interaction which augments heat and mass transfer due to the swirling motion. Its distributor is known as annular blade distributor as it is constructed from blades that are truncated sectors and has an annular geometry. The annular...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Published: |
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/4069/ http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/4069/1/P159.pdf |
| Summary: | A swirling fluidized bed (SFB) is known to yield high a solid-fluid interaction which augments heat and mass transfer due to the swirling motion. Its distributor is known as annular blade distributor as it is constructed from blades that are truncated sectors and has an annular geometry. The annular blade distributor provides lateral momentum which is ideal for various industrial applications. However, the distributor is limited to shallow bed operation only due to momentum attenuation in the vertical direction. This limits the full potential of the bed. The present study attempts to remove this limitation by introducing the annular blade distributor with radial inclination. Qualitative flow assessment via flow visualization technique is reported on the effect of using such distributor blades. Fine seeding particles were injected upstream of the system to observe difference in using the annular distributor (0˚ inclination) and radially inclined distributor (13.5˚ inclination). The distributor pressure drop was also measured to quantify the energy loss associated with both distributors. The findings show that radial inclination of distributor blades in a SFB is capable in reducing the net centrifugal force generated inside the bed due to the intense swirling motion. As a result, the steep variation of momentum distribution in the bed is reduced, although a slight increase in the distributor pressure drop was noticed. |
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