Fluidized bed fundamentals

The course describes the principles of fluidization and related phenomena (i.e., heat and mass
transfer, fluidization regimes, fuel conversion, in fluidized bed units). It also treats the main
present applications and emerging technologies based on fluidization engineering and,
particularly, those related to the conversion of solid fuels (including process elements), combustion and gasification.
Selected problems related to the design and operation of fluidized bed units for conversion of
solid fuels are formulated, and solutions are indicated.

Learning outcomes

• After completion of the course the student should be able to:
• Describe the principles of fluidization and the roles of and interactions between different underlying phenomena (i.e., heat and mass transfer, fuel conversion).
• Describe the main applications based on fluidization engineering and, more in detail, those related to conversion of solid fuels, that is boilers and gasifiers (including process elements);
• Describe the background and principles of emerging fluidized bed technologies.
• Identify the main challenges of different fluidized bed applications and formulate appropriate actions.
• Formulate and solve problems related to the design and operation of fluidized bed units for conversion of solid fuels.

Content
The lecture list below will be followed. See Literature below for course book details.

Lectures

1. General survey. Important devices. Historical overview
2. Fluidization regimes
3. The circulation loop
4. Bubbles and bubbling beds
5. Mixing
6. More about bubbling beds
7. Heat and mass transfer bed-wall, bed-particles
8. Non-catalytic reactions; Presentation of the exercise
9. Components (Cyclone, loop seal, nozzles, etc.)
10. Fuel conversion equipment (boilers, gasifiers)
11. Environmental, existing and developments: CO2 capture
12. Fuels, waste, and biomass conversion
13. Reserve
14. Submission of the exercise
15. Discussion of the results

The lectures (2 hours+1 hour in reserve to allow extension in case necessary) will treat some of the topics from the book of Kunii and Levenspiel, by extending or discussing the material. Lectures will take place at Energy Technology division, M-building, 4th floor, Hörsalsvägen 7a.
The content of the chapters to be treated is assumed to be known by the participants in advance (homework).
Lecture notes will be available before each lecture at a Box file server area (link will be given to participants before the course start).
There will be an exercise (in the form of homework) presented at the beginning of the course.

david.pallares@chalmers.se / ble@chalmers.se

Kunii&Levenspiel, Fluidization Engineering, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1991, ISBN 0-409-
90233-0. A few copies are available at the department’s library, or as an e-book.
Distributed lecture notes.

Lecturer: Bo Leckner Examiner: David Pallarès