Experimental Investigation of Gas-Solid Disengagement in Bubbling Fluidized Bed Cold Model

The aim of this experimental study is to investigate the separation performances of a new gas-solid disengagment (GSD) device in a 10 cm bubbling fluidized bed cold model. An impactor separator is designed to be fitted internally onto the loop seal and install in the bubbling fluidized bed based on the impingement separation concept. The effects of operating parameters, such as static bed height, the length of the GSD device’s dip leg, and effect of dip leg porting were examined. The results indicated that a higher static bed height increases the mass of elutriated particles from the bed column. The length of the GSD device’s dip leg has a small effect on its separation ability. A longer dip leg can reduce the amount of particles elutriated due to the reduced pressure it experiences on the solids exit as compared to a shorter dip leg. The addition of fluidization ports to the dip leg has a negative effect on preventing particles from escaping through the gas outlet. The fluidizing gas will bypass the gas inlet of the GSD device through the dip leg and no particles will impact the baffle to be separated from the gas flow. Increasing the diameter of the solid exit for the dip leg increases the efficiency of the GSD device. The higher rate of particles passing through the dip leg reduces the chance of gas flow blockage by particles accumulating in the GSD device. The research concludes that with an effective design for a gas-solid disengagement device will reduce up to 75% of the particles that enter the filtration system that elutriate from the bubbling fluidized bed.