Objective
Development of a small scale spinning cone reactor at Twente University, and a variable geometry reactor at Aston University for ablative pyrolysis of biomass and of model reactors for model studies. The influence of process parameters on the process performance in both reactors will be made and comparisons made.
The flow of nearly spherical monosized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) powder in a cold flow rotating cone reactor was investigated under variation of the particle diameter (140 to 780 um) and the cone rotational speed (up to 1800 revolutions per min).
Particles larger than 400 um seemed to be unaffected by the viscous forces, and the residence time of the particles was almost independent of the particle diameter. If the particle diameter was smaller than 200 um the viscous forces became dominant and the particle residence time was strongly dependent on the particle diameter. The particle residence time (t) versus the cone rotational speed (n) can roughly be described by t = 1.3/n.
The mathematical model which describes the particle motion consisted of 2 parts, the single particle and gas phase flow description. The particle motion was calculated from a force balance which is applied to a particle when it moves in free flight between 2 successive wall collisions. The collisions between particle and the cone wall were assumed to be elastic. It has been assumed that the turbulent gas phase can be described by the 'law of the wall'. The velocity profile of a turbulent flow near a wall was independent of the macroscopic flow geometry and was based on microscopic turbulence behaviour.
Measurements were carried out for various different particle diameters and cone rotational speeds. From these measurements, the residence time of the particles versus the cone rotational speed was obtained.
The experimentally observed residence time of the particles inside the reactor was typically in the order of 0.1 s.
The research program first aims at theoretical modelling and experimental determination of the reactor hydrodynamic. This should yield an adequate description of the particle motion inside the reactor as a function of its geometry and the solids through-put. Secondly, it will be attempted both to calculate and to measure the rate of heat exchange between particles and cone wall. The reactor performance for pyrolysis of biomass will be tested in a high-temperature construction for various operating conditions. Results will be compared with predictions of a reactor model based on data obtained from the above mentioned studies on hydrodynamics and heat transfer and supplementary data from literature. If possible, the research program will be accomplished with a technical-economic evaluation to investigate the perspective of the novel reactor type for industrial scale processes.
The key element of the Aston University reactor is a novel variation of the principle of ablative pyrolysis as an arrangement of heated contra-rotating shaped cylinders. The objective is to optimize the effects of temperature, pressure and relative velocity in terms of liquid yield, product quality, and process efficiency. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with Twente University who are adopting a similar approach but with a different equipment lay-out so that comparisons may be made of performance and effects and a common pyrolysis model developed. Other collaborators will assist in product characterisation, upgrading and chemicals recovery. In addition the potential for scale-up will be evaluated by John Brown Engineers and Constructors.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
7500 AE ENSCHEDE
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.