Characteristics of the Particle Break Process and Its Mechanism Analysis in Fluidized Process

Abstract

As a typical fluidization technology, Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is faced with the problem of catalyst particle abrasion and crushing. However, due to the small particle size of catalyst particles and the complex flow in the reactor, it is difficult to study the flow, collision, and crushing characteristics of catalyst particles by experimental methods. In order to reveal the flow, collision, and crushing characteristics of catalyst particles in FCC reactor, the crushing models of single particle Abt10 and all particles were established. By tracking the particle breakage process, the particle size distribution after particle breakage was obtained, the abrasion type of particles was determined, and the energy conversion path of particles was clarified. It was found that a few sub-particles inherit most of their mechanical energy after single particle crushing, and it was speculated that most of the dissipated mechanical energy comes from the transformation of particle rotation energy to internal energy. In the simulation of all particle crushing processes, the overall particle crushing probability is 3.90%, and the particle size distribution curve after crushing shows a bimodal distribution. Considering the abrasion mechanism, it is mainly dominated by the surface peeling mechanism.