Towards application of vortex chamber technology as a rotating fluidized bed reactor

This work focuses on the development of vortex chamber technology for the generation of rotating fluidized beds of fine particles and the evaluation of potential application as chemical reactor. Major design aspects are studied, such as the influence of the gas inlet design on the solids retention in a vortex chamber and this as a function of the particle type. The influence of separate solids outlets located on the end walls was also studied. High-G fluidization in vortex chamber results in very short gas-solid contact times, this work addresses this issue by evaluating the application of a RFB-SG to fluid catalytic cracking by means of CFD simulations using a Eulerian multiphase model and the Kinetic Theory of Granular Flow, using a 10-lump reaction kinetics model. A process intensification of one order of magnitude can easily be achieved, while operation with a more active catalyst or a higher cracking temperature opens the way for additional process intensification. Finally, a multi-zone reactor concept is also explored, which can be of great importance to efficiently deal with catalyst regeneration and with the effects of the heat of reaction, by coupling exo- and endothermic reaction zones.(FSA - Sciences de l'ingénieur) -- UCL, 201