(473f) Circulation and Separation of Binary Solids in Connected Fluidized Beds

In this work, the hydrodynamics around a slit region has been investigated in a novel fluidized bed system, constructed with two sections connected through a slit at the bottom of the bed. One side contains a vigorously fluidized bed with an inclined distributor for biomass pyrolysis, while the other provides for a gentle fluidized bed for particle separation. An inclined distributor facilitates smooth transportation of particles to the gentle bed where the lower-density char is effectively removed from the denser bed materials. Particle transportation, and therefore, particle separation, depend strongly on the gas flow rate into the lower end of the inclined distributor plate and is sensitively affected by the location of the slit. The hydrodynamics of this system has been studied, with particular attention to the region around the connecting slit where PIV analysis is applied.