Cyclone Inlet Duct with Sloped Walls and Gas Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In chemical looping combustion processes, solid particles tend to accumulate in stagnation zones, leading to obstruction, pressure fluctuations, and reduced separation efficiency in cyclones.
Innovation Solution
A cyclone design with an inclined inlet pipe and auxiliary-gas injection nozzles is proposed to reduce particle deposition and enhance separation efficiency by promoting particle flow and re-acceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a substantially horizontal transition transport zone is used to connect the reactor and cyclone, then the tangential arrival of the stream in the cyclone is preserved, but solid particles accumulate at the bottom of the pipe due to deceleration during direction change
Solution Approach 1:
The transition transport zone is designed with a curved profile instead of a horizontal configuration. The curve radius is specifically chosen to be between 0.5 to 2 times the height of the reactor, allowing the gas-solid mixture to follow a smooth curved path that maintains tangential velocity components for cyclone entry while preventing particle deceleration and accumulation at the bottom.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the gas velocity in the transport zone is reduced, then energy consumption is lowered, but solid particles deposit when velocity falls below the saltation speed
Solution Approach 1:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the transition transport zone, specifically the curve radius (0.5 to 2 times reactor height), which alters the flow dynamics. This allows the system to operate at lower gas velocities that reduce energy consumption while the optimized curvature prevents velocity from dropping below the particle saltation speed, avoiding deposition.
3Device complexity
If a conventional vertical cyclone with horizontal inlet pipe is used, then the structure is simple, but particle deposition occurs at the inlet causing pressure fluctuations and reduced separation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet pipe is redesigned with a curved profile instead of a straight horizontal configuration. The curve radius is optimized to be between 0.5 to 2 times the reactor height, which maintains structural simplicity while preventing particle deposition by eliminating stagnation zones and maintaining adequate flow velocity throughout the inlet pipe.
4Volume of moving object
If the inlet pipe dimensions are reduced, then the cyclone size is minimized, but particle deposition increases due to reduced flow velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The curved inlet pipe design with optimized radius (0.5 to 2 times reactor height) allows for compact cyclone dimensions while preventing particle deposition. The curvature maintains adequate flow velocity and eliminates stagnation zones, enabling small cyclone size without increasing deposition risks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cyclone design effectively reduces particle deposition at the inlet, minimizes pressure fluctuations, and improves gas/solid separation efficiency, ensuring uninterrupted operation and enhanced processing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a separation zone for separating the phases (solid/gas), which generally has a substantially vertical axis and is formed by a cyclone utilizing the centrifugal force to separate the solid particles from the gas phase
Implementation Method 2
a cyclone design with an inclined inlet pipe and auxiliary-gas injection nozzles is proposed to reduce particle deposition and enhance separation efficiency by promoting particle flow and re-acceleration
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cyclone for gas/solid separation in a plant for chemical looping combustion of a hydrocarbon feedstock using reactors operating as circulating fluidized beds. The novel cyclone has a specific inlet pipe of which a lower wall and one of the lateral walls are inclined and which has at least one auxiliary-gas injection means at the lower wall, making it possible to reduce the deposition of solid matter at the inlet of the cyclone, to optionally carry out chemical reactions inside the cyclone, and to improve the efficiency of the cyclone.