Effects of Gas–Solid Hydrodynamic Behavior on the Reactions of the Sorption Enhanced Steam Methane Reforming Process in Bubbling Fluidized Bed Reactors

Abstract

A three-dimensional two-fluid modeling approach with the kinetic theory of granular flow was used to study the process of sorption enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR) carried out in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor. The effects of the superficial gas velocity and restitution coefficient on the solid flow pattern and reactions were investigated. The hydrodynamic properties of the reactive flow showed different behaviors compared to the cold flow. The superficial gas velocity and restitution coefficient influence the bed expansion and bed uniformity in different ways. The reactions of SE-SMR were affected mainly by the superficial gas velocity, while the restitution coefficient has a smaller influence on the reactions. The CO 2 adsorption is a faster reaction than the SMR reactions. A uniform bed state will be of more benefit to slow reactions than to fast reactions.

Numerical evaluation of a one‐dimensional two‐fluid model applied to gas–solid cold‐flows in fluidised beds

“…Adopting a three‐dimensional two‐fluid KTGF model, Wang et al . showed that the hydrodynamic properties of the reactive flow showed different behaviours compared to the cold flow.…”

“…Thus, still the conventional two-fluid modelling framework is very crude. Adopting a three-dimensional two-fluid KTGF model, Wang et al [20] showed that the hydrodynamic properties of the reactive flow showed different behaviours compared to the cold flow. Hence, extensive fitting of the model to cold-flow experimental data may not be reasonable if the model is intended for prediction of the chemical reactor performance.…”

“…Moreover, these authors further extended their work incorporating chemical reactions to study the SE-SMR process. [18][19][20] Furthermore, Chao et al [21][22][23][24][25] proposed a three-phase flow model with the aim to investigate the effect of segregation in the SE-SMR process. For the purpose of investigating the effect of solid transport between the reformer and regeneration reactor on the performance of the SE-SMR process, Wang et al [7] numerically coupled a bubbling bed and a riser simulating a circulating fluidised bed design.…”

“…performed two‐ and three‐dimensional numerical studies of gas–solid flows in cold flow fluidised beds, respectively. Moreover, these authors further extended their work incorporating chemical reactions to study the SE‐SMR process . Furthermore, Chao et al .…”

Investigation of Interphase Drag Force Affected by Clouded Bubble via a Computational Fluid Dynamics–Discrete Element Method Approach

“…Bubbling fluidized bed reactors are widely used in many industrial processes such as combustion, gasification, catalytic reforming, and drying. − Bubbles are regarded as the typical structures in a bubbling fluidized bed, which significantly affect the hydrodynamics, heat, and mass transfer behaviors as well as reaction performance . In the last decades, bubble characteristics in a gas–solid fluidized bed have been widely explored. , Some classic theories and models have been put forward and applied in the prediction of industrial systems, such as the models of a single rising bubble or bubbles in a freely bubbling fluidized bed …”