(89d) Fluidization Science, Design and Operation

Commercial fluidized beds have been in operation for over a century. Due to the distinct advantages of superior heat transfer and the ability to move solids continuously during operations, fluidized beds persist at the forefront of the present time-critical sustainability challenges (e.g., carbon capture by particulate sorbents). Yet, the design and operation of such units have remained more an art than science. Advanced new tools have become readily available, but such tools are often neglected, inadequately implemented, ineffectively resourced, and/or poorly understood.

The design, scale-up, and operation of a fluidized or circulating fluidized bed involves understanding the essential concepts, design heuristics, and scale-up methodology. The first part aims to lay down the necessary concepts needed, crystallizing the fundamental principles presented by earlier textbooks. The second part focuses on the design of the various components of the fluidized bed. Most of these are empirical but collectively form the framework for determining the critical dimensions of each component. The last part is on scale-up, the inevitable path needed for implementing a lab-based concept on the commercial scale. Mastery of all three concepts is essential in delivering faster scale-ups with better reliabilities at lower costs.