Análise fluidodinâmica e térmica do processo de secagem de suspensão diluída em leito fluidizado

Abstract

The objective of this study was to perform a study of the hydrodynamic and thermal behavior of the drying process of a dilute suspension in a gas-solid fluidized bed. To evaluate stability fluidization, in order to avoid the condition of the defluidization phenomenon, was utilized Gaussian spectral analysis, which is a technique based on pressure fluctuation measurements. During the drying process, was analyzed relative humidity, absolute humidity and a drying efficiency. In relation to the thermal behavior, the volumetric heat transfer coefficient was analyzed, evaluating the influence of experimental conditions. The experimental tests were carried out in laboratory scale using a Plexiglas column, with 0.11 m in inner diameter and 1.0 m in height. As inert material, aluminum beads and glass beads were used, both with mean diameter of 1.55 mm. It was used as suspension of calcium carbonate with a concentration of 9 and 15%. The atomization flow rates of the suspension were 11.0; 13.0 and 15.0 mL/min. The results showed that the transition of the fluidization regimes during the suspension drying process could not be clearly identified by Gaussian spectral analysis. Additionally, the solution concentration had little influence on the time to reach the defluidization region. The atomization flow of the solution influenced the fluid dynamic stability of the bed. As for the type of the inert material, the aluminum particles presented better conditions in the hydrodynamic of drying process. The average volumetric heat transfer coefficient was 1.76 kW/m³.K and it not changed with the type of inert particle used.