Solids dispersion in high density circulating fluidized beds

Transient local solid tracer concentration distributions were measured by a novel, simple and accurate measurement system with fast response to obtain axial solids dispersion in the riser of a circulating fluidized bed operated at solids fluxes up to 450 kg/m(2)s and gas velocities up to 8 m/s. Phosphorescent-coated FCC particles were used as the tracer which were activated by high intensity UV light and injected into the return leg of high-density circulating fluidized bed unit. A radially non-uniform axial dispersion model was utilized to determine axial solids dispersion coefficients, and the results were interpreted with the help of hydrodynamic data obtained in the same column. Comparison of the axial dispersion coefficients at different operating conditions revealed that dispersion decreases when solids circulation flux increases to 450 kg/m(2)s together with the increase in gas velocity to 8 m/s. Low solids dispersion coefficients (D-az < 0.1) at high solids circulation fluxes and high velocities resulted from the disappearance of the net downward flow of particles at the riser walls, signifying the existence of the dense suspension upflow regime.