Bed density and bubble void fraction variation in a fluidized bed stripper

This study was targeted at understanding the local flow and flooding behaviors of fluidized bed strippers. Bed density, pressure fluctuations and bubble void fraction were measured in a 0.6 m diameter stripper for disk and donut, as well as grating internals using FCC catalyst particles. The grating stripper had a higher bed density and operated smoothly without flooding over a wider range of gas and solids flows than the disk and donut stripper. Flooding in the disk and donut stripper was a sudden rather than a grad-ual occurrence when a limiting solids flux was exceeded. Increasing fines composition and adding holes to the disk and donut trays mitigated flooding to some extent. The gratings stripper had flattened para-bolic radial bubble void fraction profiles whereas the disk and donut stripper had characteristic M -shape profiles. The results here are expected to be valuable for the operation and design of gas-solids flu-idized bed strippers.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

This study investigates the local flow and flooding behaviors of fluidized bed strippers, with a focus on bed density, pressure fluctuations, and bubble void fraction. It was found that the grating stripper performed better in terms of bed density and flooding prevention compared to disk and donut strippers. Increasing fines composition and adding holes to disk and donut trays can help mitigate flooding.