The rapid growth in railway infrastructure and the construction of high-speed heavy-haul rail network,especially on ground that is basically unsuitable,poses challenges for geotechnical engineers because a large part ...The rapid growth in railway infrastructure and the construction of high-speed heavy-haul rail network,especially on ground that is basically unsuitable,poses challenges for geotechnical engineers because a large part of the money invested in the development of railway lines is often spent on track maintenance.In fact around the world,the mud pumping of subgrade fines is one of the common reasons why track performance deteriorates and track stability is hindered.This article presents a series of laboratory tests to examine following aspects of mud pumping:(1)the mechanisms of subgrade fluidisation under undrained condition,(2)the effects of mud pumping on the engineering characteristics of ballast,and(3)the use of vertical drains to stabilize subgrade under cyclic loads.The undrained cyclic triaxial testing on vulnerable soft subgrade was performed by varying the cyclic stress ratio(CSR)from 0.2 to 1.0 and the loading frequency f from 1.0 to 5.0 Hz.It is seen from the test results that for a specimen compacted at an initial dry density of 1790 kg/m3,the top portion of the specimen fluidises at CSR=0.5,irrespective of the applied loading frequency.Under cyclic railway loading,the internal redistribution of water at the top of the subgrade layer softens the soil and also reduces its stiffness.In response to these problems,this paper explains how the inclusion of vertical drains in soft subgrade will help to prevent mud pumping by alleviating the build-up of excess pore pressures under moving train loads.展开更多
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether unburned carbon particles present in fly ash can help in the retention of S, Cl, Br, As, Se, Cu, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Rb, and Pb out of flue gas during the coal combustion at f...The aim of this study was to evaluate whether unburned carbon particles present in fly ash can help in the retention of S, Cl, Br, As, Se, Cu, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Rb, and Pb out of flue gas during the coal combustion at fluidised-bed power station where the coal was combusted along with limestone. The competitive influence of 10%-25% CaO in fly ashes on the distribution of studied elements was studied as well to be clear which factor governs behaviour of studied elements. Except of S （with significant association with CaO） and Rb and Pb （with major affinity to A1203） the statistically significant and positive correlation coefficients were calculated for the relations between unburned carbon content and Br （0.959）, Cl （0.957）, Cu （0.916）, Se （0.898）, Ni （0.866）, As （0.861）, Zn （0.742）, Ge （0.717）, and Ga （0.588） content. The results suggest that the unburned carbon is promising material in terms of flue gas cleaning even if contained in highly calcareous fly ashes.展开更多
In this study,a hydrophobic material,ethylcellulose,which was used as its aqueous suspension Surelease^(®),was combined with a swelling agent as the swelling layer to prepare delayed-release pellets for Danshensu...In this study,a hydrophobic material,ethylcellulose,which was used as its aqueous suspension Surelease^(®),was combined with a swelling agent as the swelling layer to prepare delayed-release pellets for Danshensu,which is a hydrophilic drug with low MW.A rupturable,delayed-release pellet consists of a drug core,a swelling layer containing a swelling agent(cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose)with a hydrophobic agent(Surelease^(®)),and a controlled layer composed by an insoluble,water-permeable polymeric coating(aqueous ethylcellulose dispersions)was developed in a fluidised bed.Results showed that blending Surelease^(®)into the swelling layer could effectively extend the release of Danshensu from the pellets,which may be attributed to the slowed swelling rate by reduction of water penetration and improvement of mechanical integrity of the swelling layer.Drug in the delayed pellets showed sustained release in beagle dogs after oral administration with comparable in-vivo exposure to the uncoated drug pellets.In conclusion,blends of hydrophobic and swelling agents in the swelling layer in doublemembrane pellets could achieve a delayed drug-release profile in vitro,as well as delayed and sustained absorption in vivo for highly soluble,low-MW drug.The present study highlighted the potential use of a delayed-release system for other hydrophilic,low-MW drugs to meet the formulation requirements for chronopharmacological diseases.展开更多
A modified particle bed model derived from the two-fluid momentum balance equations was employed to predict the gas-fluidised bed behaviour. Additional terms are included in both the fluid and the particle momentum ba...A modified particle bed model derived from the two-fluid momentum balance equations was employed to predict the gas-fluidised bed behaviour. Additional terms are included in both the fluid and the particle momentum balance equations to take into account the effect of the dispersed solid phase. This model has been extended to two-dimensional formulations and has been implemented in the commercial code CFX 4.3. The model correctly simulates the homogeneous fluidisation of Geldart Group A and the bubbling fluidisation of Geldart Group B in gas-solid fluidised beds.展开更多
The main aim of this study is to develop a comprehensive process model for biomass gasification in a pilot scale bubbling fluidized bed gasifier using the ASPEN PLUS simulator. A drawback in using ASPEN PLUS is the la...The main aim of this study is to develop a comprehensive process model for biomass gasification in a pilot scale bubbling fluidized bed gasifier using the ASPEN PLUS simulator. A drawback in using ASPEN PLUS is the lack of a library model to simulate fluidized bed unit operation. However, it is possible for users to input their own models, using FORTRAN codes nested within the ASPEN PLUS input file, to simulate operation of a fluidized bed. The products of homogeneous reactions are defined by Gibbs equilibrium and reaction rate kinetics are used to determine the products of char gasification. Governing hydrodynamic equations for a bubbling bed and kinetic expressions for the char combustion were adopted from the literature. Different sets of gasification results for the operation conditions (temperature and air equivalence ratio (ER)) obtained from the our pilot-scale gasifier having a capacity of 1 kg/hr of olive kernel as feeding biomass, were used to demonstrate the validation of the model. The simulation results received from the application of the model were compared with the above experimental results and showed good agreement.展开更多
Powder flow behaviour is the result of countless combinations of interparticle forces of different natures: frictional,interlocking,cohesive and adhesive forces.We identify the rheological tests where one mechanism is...Powder flow behaviour is the result of countless combinations of interparticle forces of different natures: frictional,interlocking,cohesive and adhesive forces.We identify the rheological tests where one mechanism is most likely to dominate over the rest,and we propose the best descriptors of uniquely cohesive or frictional effects.We describe the procedure for a fluidisation test and the features of the results linked to powder cohesivity.We contrast these features against shear test results to determine powder frictional properties,explaining the conditions and limitations of the analysis.We use solid volume fraction and compressibility measurements to assess the extent to which the different mechanisms influence natural packing and forced flow in intermediate stress regimes.The proposed experimental protocol and framework of interpretation is applied to a wide range of powdered materials,representing typical industrial issues.The qualities of the characterisation are discussed and compared to those associated with traditional rheological testing methods.The framework successfully differentiates the effects of the various interparticle interaction mechanisms on powder flow,enabling a comprehensive prediction of powder behaviour in a variety of handling and processing settings.The metrics used are all normalised,allowing for a universal direct comparison of flowability across completely different materials.展开更多
Rectangular inclined channels prove promising for solid classification based on the principle of parti- cle differential sedimentation. In the present work, we investigated the motion characteristics of binary solids ...Rectangular inclined channels prove promising for solid classification based on the principle of parti- cle differential sedimentation. In the present work, we investigated the motion characteristics of binary solids in a modified fluidised bed （mFB） with inclined plates. We developed a theoretical model for the particle motion behaviour that accounts for the average solid volume fraction in the inclined channel and interactions between binary solids. The experimental system was designed to be consistent with the idealised theoretical arrangements to maximise the measurement accuracy. The experimental particles were mixtures of silica sand particles of sizes 425-710 i^m and 710-880/~m, respectively. Specifically, we investigated the flow hydrodynamics of the binary suspension in terms of the settling length of both par- ticle species and the bed expansion behaviour. We also analysed the utilisation factor and the separation efficiency of the mFB. The results showed that the average solid volume fraction in the inclined channel fluctuated slightly for a given total solid inventory. The utilisation factor and separation efficiency of the system decreased when increasing either the fluidisation velocity or the solid inventory. The prediction results were in good agreement with the experimental data with an absolute deviation of less than 15%.展开更多
An accurate estimation of the total pressure drop of a pipeline is important to the reliable design of a pneumatic conveying system. The present paper presents results from an investigation into the modelling of the p...An accurate estimation of the total pressure drop of a pipeline is important to the reliable design of a pneumatic conveying system. The present paper presents results from an investigation into the modelling of the pressure drop at a bend in the pneumatic conveying of fly ash. Seven existing bend models were used （in conjunction with solids friction models for horizontal and vertical straight pipes, and initial acceleration losses） to predict the total pipeline pressure drop in conveying fly ash （median particle diameter： 30 }zm; particle density： 2300 kg/m^3; loose-poured bulk density： 700 kg/m3） in three test rigs （pipelines with dimensions of 69 mm inner diameter （I.D.） × 168 m length; 105 mm I.D. × 168 m length; 69 mm I.D. × 554 m length）. A comparison of the pneumatic conveying characteristics （PCC） predicted using the seven bend models and experimental results shows that the predicted total pipeline PCC and trends depend on the choice of bend model. While some models predict trends that agree with the experimental results, other models predicted greater bend pressure drops for the dense phase of fly ash than for the dilute phase. Models of Pan, R. （1992）. Improving scale-up procedures for the design of pneumatic conveying systems. Doctoral dissertation, University of Wollongong, Australia, Pan, R., ＆ Wypych, P.W. （1998）. Dilute and dense phase pneumatic conveying of fly ash. In Proceedings of the sixth International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage and Transportation （pp. 183-189）, Wollongong, NSW, Australia and Chambers, A.J., ＆ Marcus, R.D. （1986）. Pneumatic conveying calculations. In Proceedings of the second International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage and Transportation （pp. 49-52）, Wollongong, Australia reliably predicted the bend losses for systems conveying fly ash over a large range of air flows.展开更多
The flow characteristics of a dual fluidised bed gasifier(DFBG)are more complex than those of a single fluidised bed gasifier.For stable operation and appropriate control,a cold DFBG test facility with both an upper a...The flow characteristics of a dual fluidised bed gasifier(DFBG)are more complex than those of a single fluidised bed gasifier.For stable operation and appropriate control,a cold DFBG test facility with both an upper and a lower U-valve was built,and electrical capacitance tomography(ECT)sensors were installed with pressure transducers to investigate the effects of operating conditions on gas-solids flow hydrodynamics.The operating parameters included gas velocities in the riser and in the bubbling fluidised bed,aeration velocity in the lower U-valve,bed material inventory,and particle size.This is the first time that ECT was applied in different flow zones of a dual fluidised bed gasifier system.The experimental results indicated that ECT in the recycle chamber could monitor the performance of the lower U-valve under different operating conditions for early detection of gas shortcut from the riser to the bubbling bed.Three main flow regimes in the riser and the differences between the reactors were identified by two sets of ECT sensors with pressure transducers.Finally,the effects of the operating conditions on the pressure drop in different parts of the DFBG was investigated.展开更多
Computational Fluid Dynamics coupled with Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) is a commonly used numerical method to model gas-solid flow in fluidised beds and other multiphase systems. A significant limitation of CFD-D...Computational Fluid Dynamics coupled with Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) is a commonly used numerical method to model gas-solid flow in fluidised beds and other multiphase systems. A significant limitation of CFD-DEM is the feasibility of the realistic simulation of large numbers of particles. Coarse-graining (CG) approaches, through which groups of multiple individual particles are represented by single, larger particles, can substantially reduce the total number of particles while maintaining similar system dynamics. As these three CG models have not previously been compared, there remains some debate, however, about the best practice in the application of CG in CFD-DEM simulations. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of three typical CG methods based on simulations of a bubbling fluidised bed. This is achieved through the use of a numerical validation framework, which makes full use of the high-resolution 3D positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) measurements to rigorously validate the outputs of CFD-DEM simulations conducted using various different coarse-graining models, and various different degrees of coarse-graining. The particle flow behaviours in terms of the particle occupancy field, velocity field, circulation time, and bubble size and velocity, are comprehensively analysed. It is shown that the CG simulation starts to fail when the size ratio between the bed chamber and the particles decreases to approximately 20. It is also observed, somewhat surprisingly, that the specific CG approach applied to interparticle contact parameters does not have a substantial effect on the simulation results for the bubbling bed simulations across a wide range of CG factors.展开更多
This work involves the production of magnesium in the form of Mg(OH)_(2)from serpentinite rock(nickel mine tailing)material followed by conversion into MgCO_(3)using a pressurised fluidised bed(PFB)reactor operating a...This work involves the production of magnesium in the form of Mg(OH)_(2)from serpentinite rock(nickel mine tailing)material followed by conversion into MgCO_(3)using a pressurised fluidised bed(PFB)reactor operating at 400℃-600℃and pressures up to 2.85 MPa.Our approach is rooted in the thermodynamic fact that the reaction between Mg(OH)_(2)and gaseous CO_(2)forming MgCO_(3)and water releases significant amounts of heat.The main problem is,however,the chemical kinetics;the reaction is slow and has to be accelerated in order to be used in an economically viable process for large-scale(~1 Mt/a)CO_(2)sequestration.We have constructed a labscale PFB reactor test-setup for optimising the carbonation reaction.At high enough temperatures and conversion levels the reaction should provide the heat for the proceeding Mg(OH)_(2)production step,making the overall process energy neutral.So far we have been able to achieve a conversion degree of 26%at 500℃and 2.85 MPa after 30 min(particle size 125-212μm).In this paper the test facility and our latest results and progress on CO_(2)mineral carbonation are summarised.Also,the possible integration of the iron as a feedstock for iron and steel production will be briefly addressed.An interesting side-effect of this carbon dioxide capture and storage(CCS)route is that significant amounts of iron are obtained from the serpentinite rock material.This is released during the Mg(OH)_(2)production and can be of great interest to the iron-and steel producing sector,which at the same time is Finland’s largest CO_(2)producer.展开更多
Characterisations of instantaneous mixing behaviours in fluidised beds with binary mixtures has many challenges.We studied the instantaneous mixing characteristics of binary mixtures in a 2-D quasi gas-solid fluidised...Characterisations of instantaneous mixing behaviours in fluidised beds with binary mixtures has many challenges.We studied the instantaneous mixing characteristics of binary mixtures in a 2-D quasi gas-solid fluidised bed using a capacitance probe method.This method enabled the quantitative assessment of instantaneous mixing behaviours,including mixing index,rate,and time.Three kinds of binary mixtures of similar size but different density were used for the transient and steady fluidisation experiments in a bubbling fluidised bed.The mixing curves of initially segregated binary mixtures were acquired,and the instantaneous characteristics for the entire process were analysed.An equation was proposed to describe the mixing process and predict the mixing degree over time.By comparing experiments with different working conditions,the effects of superficial gas velocity and density ratio on the mixing in the centre and at the wall of the fluidised bed were addressed.During the stable fluidisation stage,the axial concentration profiles of the mixtures were obtained,and the mechanisms of mixing were discussed.Results showed that the mixing level increased logarithmically with time and eventually reached a relatively stable value.Increasing the superficial gas velocity and reducing the density ratio promoted mixing and reduced mixing time.High superficial gas velocities tended to mix the mixtures well and quickly,regardless of the density ratio of the two components.展开更多
Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） has been used to study the behaviour Of jets at the distributor of a 50 mm diameter fluidised bed of 0.5 mm diameter poppy seeds. Two perforated-plate distributors were examined, con...Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） has been used to study the behaviour Of jets at the distributor of a 50 mm diameter fluidised bed of 0.5 mm diameter poppy seeds. Two perforated-plate distributors were examined, containing either 10 or 14 holes, each 1 mm diameter. Ultra-fast MR imaging was able to show the transient nature of the upper parts of the jets, where discrete bubbles are formed. Imaging in 3D showed that the central jets were the longest for flow rates below minimum fluidisation. Above minimum fluidisation, the outer jets, nearest the wall of the fluidised bed, arched inward towards the central axis. In this latter case, interpretation of the time-averaged 3D image required the use of ultra-fast MR imaging to identify the approximate height above the distributor at which discrete bubbles were formed. The apparently continuous void extending along the central axis above this height in the time-averaged 3D image was thus identified, using ultra-fast MR imaging, as representing the averaged paths of released bubbles. Time-averaged MR velocity mapping was also used to identify dead zones of stationary particles resting on the distributor between the jets. The dead zones could be observed when the superficial velocity of the gas approached minimum fluidisation, but they were smaller than those observed at lower gas superficial velocity. Comparable images of a single jet through 1.2 mm diameter poppy seeds from MRI and electrical capacitance volume tomography （ECVT） are also demonstrated.展开更多
A particle sub-model describing the bed characteristics of a bubbling fluidised bed is presented. Atomisation air, applied at high pressures via a nozzle positioned above the bed for spray formation, is incorporated i...A particle sub-model describing the bed characteristics of a bubbling fluidised bed is presented. Atomisation air, applied at high pressures via a nozzle positioned above the bed for spray formation, is incorporated in the model since its presence has a profound influence on the bed characteristics, though the spray itself is not yet considered. A particle sub-model is developed using well-known empirical relations for particle drag force, bubble growth and velocity and particle distribution above the fluidised-bed surface. Simple but effective assumptions and abstractions were made concerning bubble distribution, particle ejection at the bed surface and the behaviour of atomisation air flow upon impacting the surface of a bubbling fluidised bed, The model was shown to be capable of predicting the fluidised bed characteristics in terms of bed heights, voidage distributions and solids volume fractions with good accuracy in less than 5 min of calculation time on a regular desktop PC. It is therefore suitable for incorporation into general process control models aimed at dynamic control for process efficiency and product quality in top-spray fluidised bed coating processes.展开更多
Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） gave images of air jets from orifices in the distributor plate of a bed of poppy seeds. Attention focused on two features： （1） The interaction between nearby vertical jets from tw...Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） gave images of air jets from orifices in the distributor plate of a bed of poppy seeds. Attention focused on two features： （1） The interaction between nearby vertical jets from two, three or four orifices; （2） Wall effects, where one or more orifices created vertical jets near the vertical wall of the cylinder containing the particle bed. The results show that nearby jets are mutually attracted. Likewise a jet near a wall bends out of the vertical, towards the wall, For multiple adjacent jets, the jet lengths show dependence on orifice layout： the lengths are in reasonable agreement with published measurements, by other methods, for single jets. The MRI gives three-dimensional images of the single jets and of multiple jets, separate or merging.展开更多
Residence time distributions （RTDs） in horizontal fluidised beds have a huge effect on solid product properties and are infuenced by the internal design of the apparatus, e.g. the separation into different compartme...Residence time distributions （RTDs） in horizontal fluidised beds have a huge effect on solid product properties and are infuenced by the internal design of the apparatus, e.g. the separation into different compartments by weirs. Weirs can be passed in or against the overall solid transport direction, with the back-flow resulting in axial dispersion, which is a measure of the spread of the RTD. Therefore, the ratio of exchange rates at weirs under different fluidisation conditions provides information on axial dispersion. In this work, a methodology based on particle tracking velocimetry is presented to obtain information on the exchange rates of particles at weirs in horizontal fluidised beds. The internal recirculation is studied for over-flow weirs with respect to different fluidisation conditions, providing a first step towards determining the effects of weirs and fluidisation conditions on axial dispersion and RTDs in horizontal fluidised beds.展开更多
At the present time, the sewage treatment plants in the UK produce about 25 million tons of sewage sludge each year at a concentration of 4% solids. New regulations forbid sea dumping and in the near future new incin...At the present time, the sewage treatment plants in the UK produce about 25 million tons of sewage sludge each year at a concentration of 4% solids. New regulations forbid sea dumping and in the near future new incinerators will be required to dispose of about 5 million tons per year. Bubbling fluidised bed incinerators are widely used to burn sewage sludge at a typical consumption rate of about 0.02kg(dry)·s -1 ·m 2 , and it follows that over 300 conventional fluidised bed incinerators of 3m diameter could be required to cope with the increased demand.\;At Sheffield University Waste Incineration Centre (SUWIC) research work is being carried out to develop a novel spinning fluidised bed incinerator. The key factor to note is that when air flows up through a bed of near mono sized particles, it fluidises when the pressure drop across the bed is equal to the weight of the bed. Normally, the weight of the bed is determined by gravity. However, if the bed is contained by a cylindrical air distributor ‘plate’ that is rotating rapidly about its axis, then the effective weight of the bed can be increased dramatically. The airflow passing through the bed can be increased proportionally to the “g” level produced by the rotation and it follows that the process has been intensified. In exploratory tests with a spinning fluidised bed we have achieved combustion intensities with coal combustion as high as 100MW/m 3. A problem with burning coal is that it was difficult to remove the heat and rotating water seals had to be used to transfer cooling water into the bed. In the case of sewage and other sludges, this problem does not exist since the flue gases can remove the small amount of heat released. The rotating fluidised bed sludge incinerator is a novel device, which is very compact. It is able to solve the turndown problem encountered with conventional fluidised beds by simply changing the rotation speed. Bearing in mind that a centrifugal sludge de watering unit is already used on sludge incineration plants, it is likely that the rotating fluidised bed can be combined with the de watering unit, resulting in further process integration and intensification. Furthermore, our ash sintering system can be added to render the ash non toxic and unleachable thus reducing the cost of its disposal.展开更多
基金This research was supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Projects funding scheme(Project LP160101254)the Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure(ITTC),University of WollongongThe financial and technical support from SMEC-Australia and ARTC(Australian Rail Track Corporation)is acknowledged.
文摘The rapid growth in railway infrastructure and the construction of high-speed heavy-haul rail network,especially on ground that is basically unsuitable,poses challenges for geotechnical engineers because a large part of the money invested in the development of railway lines is often spent on track maintenance.In fact around the world,the mud pumping of subgrade fines is one of the common reasons why track performance deteriorates and track stability is hindered.This article presents a series of laboratory tests to examine following aspects of mud pumping:(1)the mechanisms of subgrade fluidisation under undrained condition,(2)the effects of mud pumping on the engineering characteristics of ballast,and(3)the use of vertical drains to stabilize subgrade under cyclic loads.The undrained cyclic triaxial testing on vulnerable soft subgrade was performed by varying the cyclic stress ratio(CSR)from 0.2 to 1.0 and the loading frequency f from 1.0 to 5.0 Hz.It is seen from the test results that for a specimen compacted at an initial dry density of 1790 kg/m3,the top portion of the specimen fluidises at CSR=0.5,irrespective of the applied loading frequency.Under cyclic railway loading,the internal redistribution of water at the top of the subgrade layer softens the soil and also reduces its stiffness.In response to these problems,this paper explains how the inclusion of vertical drains in soft subgrade will help to prevent mud pumping by alleviating the build-up of excess pore pressures under moving train loads.
基金created in the project No.CZ.1.05/2.1.00/01.0040 "Regional Materials Science and Technology Centre" within the frame of the operation programme "Research and Development for Innovations" financed by the Structural Funds and from the state budget of the Czech RepublicOP VaVPI by project No. ENET CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0069
文摘The aim of this study was to evaluate whether unburned carbon particles present in fly ash can help in the retention of S, Cl, Br, As, Se, Cu, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Rb, and Pb out of flue gas during the coal combustion at fluidised-bed power station where the coal was combusted along with limestone. The competitive influence of 10%-25% CaO in fly ashes on the distribution of studied elements was studied as well to be clear which factor governs behaviour of studied elements. Except of S （with significant association with CaO） and Rb and Pb （with major affinity to A1203） the statistically significant and positive correlation coefficients were calculated for the relations between unburned carbon content and Br （0.959）, Cl （0.957）, Cu （0.916）, Se （0.898）, Ni （0.866）, As （0.861）, Zn （0.742）, Ge （0.717）, and Ga （0.588） content. The results suggest that the unburned carbon is promising material in terms of flue gas cleaning even if contained in highly calcareous fly ashes.
基金Financial support was provided by a research grant from the University of Macao(Research Grant RG085/09-10S/ZY/ICMS and UL016/09-Y4/CMS/WYT01/ICMS).
文摘In this study,a hydrophobic material,ethylcellulose,which was used as its aqueous suspension Surelease^(®),was combined with a swelling agent as the swelling layer to prepare delayed-release pellets for Danshensu,which is a hydrophilic drug with low MW.A rupturable,delayed-release pellet consists of a drug core,a swelling layer containing a swelling agent(cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose)with a hydrophobic agent(Surelease^(®)),and a controlled layer composed by an insoluble,water-permeable polymeric coating(aqueous ethylcellulose dispersions)was developed in a fluidised bed.Results showed that blending Surelease^(®)into the swelling layer could effectively extend the release of Danshensu from the pellets,which may be attributed to the slowed swelling rate by reduction of water penetration and improvement of mechanical integrity of the swelling layer.Drug in the delayed pellets showed sustained release in beagle dogs after oral administration with comparable in-vivo exposure to the uncoated drug pellets.In conclusion,blends of hydrophobic and swelling agents in the swelling layer in doublemembrane pellets could achieve a delayed drug-release profile in vitro,as well as delayed and sustained absorption in vivo for highly soluble,low-MW drug.The present study highlighted the potential use of a delayed-release system for other hydrophilic,low-MW drugs to meet the formulation requirements for chronopharmacological diseases.
基金Supported by EU Comm ission(No.ENK5 - CT2 0 0 0 - 0 0 314 )
文摘A modified particle bed model derived from the two-fluid momentum balance equations was employed to predict the gas-fluidised bed behaviour. Additional terms are included in both the fluid and the particle momentum balance equations to take into account the effect of the dispersed solid phase. This model has been extended to two-dimensional formulations and has been implemented in the commercial code CFX 4.3. The model correctly simulates the homogeneous fluidisation of Geldart Group A and the bubbling fluidisation of Geldart Group B in gas-solid fluidised beds.
文摘The main aim of this study is to develop a comprehensive process model for biomass gasification in a pilot scale bubbling fluidized bed gasifier using the ASPEN PLUS simulator. A drawback in using ASPEN PLUS is the lack of a library model to simulate fluidized bed unit operation. However, it is possible for users to input their own models, using FORTRAN codes nested within the ASPEN PLUS input file, to simulate operation of a fluidized bed. The products of homogeneous reactions are defined by Gibbs equilibrium and reaction rate kinetics are used to determine the products of char gasification. Governing hydrodynamic equations for a bubbling bed and kinetic expressions for the char combustion were adopted from the literature. Different sets of gasification results for the operation conditions (temperature and air equivalence ratio (ER)) obtained from the our pilot-scale gasifier having a capacity of 1 kg/hr of olive kernel as feeding biomass, were used to demonstrate the validation of the model. The simulation results received from the application of the model were compared with the above experimental results and showed good agreement.
文摘Powder flow behaviour is the result of countless combinations of interparticle forces of different natures: frictional,interlocking,cohesive and adhesive forces.We identify the rheological tests where one mechanism is most likely to dominate over the rest,and we propose the best descriptors of uniquely cohesive or frictional effects.We describe the procedure for a fluidisation test and the features of the results linked to powder cohesivity.We contrast these features against shear test results to determine powder frictional properties,explaining the conditions and limitations of the analysis.We use solid volume fraction and compressibility measurements to assess the extent to which the different mechanisms influence natural packing and forced flow in intermediate stress regimes.The proposed experimental protocol and framework of interpretation is applied to a wide range of powdered materials,representing typical industrial issues.The qualities of the characterisation are discussed and compared to those associated with traditional rheological testing methods.The framework successfully differentiates the effects of the various interparticle interaction mechanisms on powder flow,enabling a comprehensive prediction of powder behaviour in a variety of handling and processing settings.The metrics used are all normalised,allowing for a universal direct comparison of flowability across completely different materials.
文摘Rectangular inclined channels prove promising for solid classification based on the principle of parti- cle differential sedimentation. In the present work, we investigated the motion characteristics of binary solids in a modified fluidised bed （mFB） with inclined plates. We developed a theoretical model for the particle motion behaviour that accounts for the average solid volume fraction in the inclined channel and interactions between binary solids. The experimental system was designed to be consistent with the idealised theoretical arrangements to maximise the measurement accuracy. The experimental particles were mixtures of silica sand particles of sizes 425-710 i^m and 710-880/~m, respectively. Specifically, we investigated the flow hydrodynamics of the binary suspension in terms of the settling length of both par- ticle species and the bed expansion behaviour. We also analysed the utilisation factor and the separation efficiency of the mFB. The results showed that the average solid volume fraction in the inclined channel fluctuated slightly for a given total solid inventory. The utilisation factor and separation efficiency of the system decreased when increasing either the fluidisation velocity or the solid inventory. The prediction results were in good agreement with the experimental data with an absolute deviation of less than 15%.
基金the Department of Science and Technology(Government of India) for financial assistance provided under the Young Scientist Scheme(Grant No.SR/FTP/ETA-15/2011)
文摘An accurate estimation of the total pressure drop of a pipeline is important to the reliable design of a pneumatic conveying system. The present paper presents results from an investigation into the modelling of the pressure drop at a bend in the pneumatic conveying of fly ash. Seven existing bend models were used （in conjunction with solids friction models for horizontal and vertical straight pipes, and initial acceleration losses） to predict the total pipeline pressure drop in conveying fly ash （median particle diameter： 30 }zm; particle density： 2300 kg/m^3; loose-poured bulk density： 700 kg/m3） in three test rigs （pipelines with dimensions of 69 mm inner diameter （I.D.） × 168 m length; 105 mm I.D. × 168 m length; 69 mm I.D. × 554 m length）. A comparison of the pneumatic conveying characteristics （PCC） predicted using the seven bend models and experimental results shows that the predicted total pipeline PCC and trends depend on the choice of bend model. While some models predict trends that agree with the experimental results, other models predicted greater bend pressure drops for the dense phase of fly ash than for the dilute phase. Models of Pan, R. （1992）. Improving scale-up procedures for the design of pneumatic conveying systems. Doctoral dissertation, University of Wollongong, Australia, Pan, R., ＆ Wypych, P.W. （1998）. Dilute and dense phase pneumatic conveying of fly ash. In Proceedings of the sixth International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage and Transportation （pp. 183-189）, Wollongong, NSW, Australia and Chambers, A.J., ＆ Marcus, R.D. （1986）. Pneumatic conveying calculations. In Proceedings of the second International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage and Transportation （pp. 49-52）, Wollongong, Australia reliably predicted the bend losses for systems conveying fly ash over a large range of air flows.
基金This work was funded by the National Natural Science Founda-tion of China(Nos.61771455 and 61811530333)Chinese Academy of Sciences Major International Collaboration Project and the Royal Society Newton Advanced Fellowship(NA170124).
文摘The flow characteristics of a dual fluidised bed gasifier(DFBG)are more complex than those of a single fluidised bed gasifier.For stable operation and appropriate control,a cold DFBG test facility with both an upper and a lower U-valve was built,and electrical capacitance tomography(ECT)sensors were installed with pressure transducers to investigate the effects of operating conditions on gas-solids flow hydrodynamics.The operating parameters included gas velocities in the riser and in the bubbling fluidised bed,aeration velocity in the lower U-valve,bed material inventory,and particle size.This is the first time that ECT was applied in different flow zones of a dual fluidised bed gasifier system.The experimental results indicated that ECT in the recycle chamber could monitor the performance of the lower U-valve under different operating conditions for early detection of gas shortcut from the riser to the bubbling bed.Three main flow regimes in the riser and the differences between the reactors were identified by two sets of ECT sensors with pressure transducers.Finally,the effects of the operating conditions on the pressure drop in different parts of the DFBG was investigated.
文摘Computational Fluid Dynamics coupled with Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) is a commonly used numerical method to model gas-solid flow in fluidised beds and other multiphase systems. A significant limitation of CFD-DEM is the feasibility of the realistic simulation of large numbers of particles. Coarse-graining (CG) approaches, through which groups of multiple individual particles are represented by single, larger particles, can substantially reduce the total number of particles while maintaining similar system dynamics. As these three CG models have not previously been compared, there remains some debate, however, about the best practice in the application of CG in CFD-DEM simulations. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of three typical CG methods based on simulations of a bubbling fluidised bed. This is achieved through the use of a numerical validation framework, which makes full use of the high-resolution 3D positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) measurements to rigorously validate the outputs of CFD-DEM simulations conducted using various different coarse-graining models, and various different degrees of coarse-graining. The particle flow behaviours in terms of the particle occupancy field, velocity field, circulation time, and bubble size and velocity, are comprehensively analysed. It is shown that the CG simulation starts to fail when the size ratio between the bed chamber and the particles decreases to approximately 20. It is also observed, somewhat surprisingly, that the specific CG approach applied to interparticle contact parameters does not have a substantial effect on the simulation results for the bubbling bed simulations across a wide range of CG factors.
基金funded(2008-2011)by the Academy of Finland—Sustainable Energy programme(SusEn).
文摘This work involves the production of magnesium in the form of Mg(OH)_(2)from serpentinite rock(nickel mine tailing)material followed by conversion into MgCO_(3)using a pressurised fluidised bed(PFB)reactor operating at 400℃-600℃and pressures up to 2.85 MPa.Our approach is rooted in the thermodynamic fact that the reaction between Mg(OH)_(2)and gaseous CO_(2)forming MgCO_(3)and water releases significant amounts of heat.The main problem is,however,the chemical kinetics;the reaction is slow and has to be accelerated in order to be used in an economically viable process for large-scale(~1 Mt/a)CO_(2)sequestration.We have constructed a labscale PFB reactor test-setup for optimising the carbonation reaction.At high enough temperatures and conversion levels the reaction should provide the heat for the proceeding Mg(OH)_(2)production step,making the overall process energy neutral.So far we have been able to achieve a conversion degree of 26%at 500℃and 2.85 MPa after 30 min(particle size 125-212μm).In this paper the test facility and our latest results and progress on CO_(2)mineral carbonation are summarised.Also,the possible integration of the iron as a feedstock for iron and steel production will be briefly addressed.An interesting side-effect of this carbon dioxide capture and storage(CCS)route is that significant amounts of iron are obtained from the serpentinite rock material.This is released during the Mg(OH)_(2)production and can be of great interest to the iron-and steel producing sector,which at the same time is Finland’s largest CO_(2)producer.
基金the National Nature Science Foundation of China through contract No.51925602,No.51888103 and No.51676158.
文摘Characterisations of instantaneous mixing behaviours in fluidised beds with binary mixtures has many challenges.We studied the instantaneous mixing characteristics of binary mixtures in a 2-D quasi gas-solid fluidised bed using a capacitance probe method.This method enabled the quantitative assessment of instantaneous mixing behaviours,including mixing index,rate,and time.Three kinds of binary mixtures of similar size but different density were used for the transient and steady fluidisation experiments in a bubbling fluidised bed.The mixing curves of initially segregated binary mixtures were acquired,and the instantaneous characteristics for the entire process were analysed.An equation was proposed to describe the mixing process and predict the mixing degree over time.By comparing experiments with different working conditions,the effects of superficial gas velocity and density ratio on the mixing in the centre and at the wall of the fluidised bed were addressed.During the stable fluidisation stage,the axial concentration profiles of the mixtures were obtained,and the mechanisms of mixing were discussed.Results showed that the mixing level increased logarithmically with time and eventually reached a relatively stable value.Increasing the superficial gas velocity and reducing the density ratio promoted mixing and reduced mixing time.High superficial gas velocities tended to mix the mixtures well and quickly,regardless of the density ratio of the two components.
基金funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Grant number EP/F041772/1)
文摘Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） has been used to study the behaviour Of jets at the distributor of a 50 mm diameter fluidised bed of 0.5 mm diameter poppy seeds. Two perforated-plate distributors were examined, containing either 10 or 14 holes, each 1 mm diameter. Ultra-fast MR imaging was able to show the transient nature of the upper parts of the jets, where discrete bubbles are formed. Imaging in 3D showed that the central jets were the longest for flow rates below minimum fluidisation. Above minimum fluidisation, the outer jets, nearest the wall of the fluidised bed, arched inward towards the central axis. In this latter case, interpretation of the time-averaged 3D image required the use of ultra-fast MR imaging to identify the approximate height above the distributor at which discrete bubbles were formed. The apparently continuous void extending along the central axis above this height in the time-averaged 3D image was thus identified, using ultra-fast MR imaging, as representing the averaged paths of released bubbles. Time-averaged MR velocity mapping was also used to identify dead zones of stationary particles resting on the distributor between the jets. The dead zones could be observed when the superficial velocity of the gas approached minimum fluidisation, but they were smaller than those observed at lower gas superficial velocity. Comparable images of a single jet through 1.2 mm diameter poppy seeds from MRI and electrical capacitance volume tomography （ECVT） are also demonstrated.
基金the financial support of the Special Research Fund (BOF) of the Ghent University
文摘A particle sub-model describing the bed characteristics of a bubbling fluidised bed is presented. Atomisation air, applied at high pressures via a nozzle positioned above the bed for spray formation, is incorporated in the model since its presence has a profound influence on the bed characteristics, though the spray itself is not yet considered. A particle sub-model is developed using well-known empirical relations for particle drag force, bubble growth and velocity and particle distribution above the fluidised-bed surface. Simple but effective assumptions and abstractions were made concerning bubble distribution, particle ejection at the bed surface and the behaviour of atomisation air flow upon impacting the surface of a bubbling fluidised bed, The model was shown to be capable of predicting the fluidised bed characteristics in terms of bed heights, voidage distributions and solids volume fractions with good accuracy in less than 5 min of calculation time on a regular desktop PC. It is therefore suitable for incorporation into general process control models aimed at dynamic control for process efficiency and product quality in top-spray fluidised bed coating processes.
基金the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(Grant number EP/F041772/1)
文摘Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） gave images of air jets from orifices in the distributor plate of a bed of poppy seeds. Attention focused on two features： （1） The interaction between nearby vertical jets from two, three or four orifices; （2） Wall effects, where one or more orifices created vertical jets near the vertical wall of the cylinder containing the particle bed. The results show that nearby jets are mutually attracted. Likewise a jet near a wall bends out of the vertical, towards the wall, For multiple adjacent jets, the jet lengths show dependence on orifice layout： the lengths are in reasonable agreement with published measurements, by other methods, for single jets. The MRI gives three-dimensional images of the single jets and of multiple jets, separate or merging.
文摘Residence time distributions （RTDs） in horizontal fluidised beds have a huge effect on solid product properties and are infuenced by the internal design of the apparatus, e.g. the separation into different compartments by weirs. Weirs can be passed in or against the overall solid transport direction, with the back-flow resulting in axial dispersion, which is a measure of the spread of the RTD. Therefore, the ratio of exchange rates at weirs under different fluidisation conditions provides information on axial dispersion. In this work, a methodology based on particle tracking velocimetry is presented to obtain information on the exchange rates of particles at weirs in horizontal fluidised beds. The internal recirculation is studied for over-flow weirs with respect to different fluidisation conditions, providing a first step towards determining the effects of weirs and fluidisation conditions on axial dispersion and RTDs in horizontal fluidised beds.
文摘At the present time, the sewage treatment plants in the UK produce about 25 million tons of sewage sludge each year at a concentration of 4% solids. New regulations forbid sea dumping and in the near future new incinerators will be required to dispose of about 5 million tons per year. Bubbling fluidised bed incinerators are widely used to burn sewage sludge at a typical consumption rate of about 0.02kg(dry)·s -1 ·m 2 , and it follows that over 300 conventional fluidised bed incinerators of 3m diameter could be required to cope with the increased demand.\;At Sheffield University Waste Incineration Centre (SUWIC) research work is being carried out to develop a novel spinning fluidised bed incinerator. The key factor to note is that when air flows up through a bed of near mono sized particles, it fluidises when the pressure drop across the bed is equal to the weight of the bed. Normally, the weight of the bed is determined by gravity. However, if the bed is contained by a cylindrical air distributor ‘plate’ that is rotating rapidly about its axis, then the effective weight of the bed can be increased dramatically. The airflow passing through the bed can be increased proportionally to the “g” level produced by the rotation and it follows that the process has been intensified. In exploratory tests with a spinning fluidised bed we have achieved combustion intensities with coal combustion as high as 100MW/m 3. A problem with burning coal is that it was difficult to remove the heat and rotating water seals had to be used to transfer cooling water into the bed. In the case of sewage and other sludges, this problem does not exist since the flue gases can remove the small amount of heat released. The rotating fluidised bed sludge incinerator is a novel device, which is very compact. It is able to solve the turndown problem encountered with conventional fluidised beds by simply changing the rotation speed. Bearing in mind that a centrifugal sludge de watering unit is already used on sludge incineration plants, it is likely that the rotating fluidised bed can be combined with the de watering unit, resulting in further process integration and intensification. Furthermore, our ash sintering system can be added to render the ash non toxic and unleachable thus reducing the cost of its disposal.
