Electrically Heated Fluidized Bed Reactor for Uniform Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluidized bed reactors face challenges in maintaining a high and uniform internal temperature due to heat distribution issues and temperature deviations caused by reactant concentration gradients and catalyst activity differences.
Innovation Solution
An electrically heated fluidized bed reactor design that includes a heating plate generating heat and heat transfer members to uniformly distribute heat throughout the reactor, using insulation to prevent catalyst loss and a distribution plate to evenly disperse reactants, with adjustable current application for temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an external heat source is used to heat the fluidized bed reactor, then the reactor can be heated, but it is difficult to maintain a high and uniform internal temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the external mechanical heat source with an internal electrical heating system. The heating plate positioned at the bottom of the reactor generates heat electrically, which is then distributed upward through the fluidized bed. This substitution eliminates the temperature gradient issues associated with external heating and enables more uniform temperature distribution throughout the reactor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heating plate as an intermediary heat transfer component. This heating plate serves as a mediator between the electrical energy source and the reactant-catalyst mixture, enabling efficient and uniform heat transfer to the entire reaction zone without direct contact between the heat source and the reacting materials.
2Productivity
If the reactor diameter is increased to handle large-scale reactions, then productivity increases, but temperature distribution becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating function by positioning the heating plate at the bottom and using the fluidized bed structure itself as a heat distribution network. The catalyst particles and gas flow act as a distributed heat transfer medium, dividing the heat delivery function across the entire reactor cross-section rather than relying on a single central heat source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from point-source or surface heating to volumetric heating by utilizing the fluidized bed's three-dimensional structure. The heat is distributed throughout the volume of the reactor via the circulating catalyst particles and gas flow, enabling effective temperature control in large-diameter reactors.
3Use of energy by moving object
If electric heating is applied directly to the fluidized bed, then heating efficiency improves, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to hot spots
Solution Approach 1:
The heating plate serves as an intermediary that distributes heat uniformly across the bottom of the reactor. By positioning the heat source at the base and using the fluidized bed's natural circulation patterns, the system achieves both high heating efficiency and uniform temperature distribution without creating localized hot spots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies heating locally at the bottom of the reactor where the heating plate is positioned, but the fluidized bed structure transforms this localized heat input into uniform distribution throughout the entire reactor volume. The catalyst particles and gas flow create a dynamic system where heat is continuously redistributed, maintaining local temperature equilibrium.
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 reactor maintains a high and uniform internal temperature, reducing temperature deviations and enhancing reaction efficiency by uniform heat distribution and catalyst retention.
Implementation Method 1
a heating plate disposed horizontally in an upper portion of the reactor housing, configured to generate heat by receiving a current from a power supply
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of heat transfer members connected to the heating plate and extending downward from the heating plate to transfer the heat generated by the heating plate to a lower portion inside the reactor housing
Implementation Method 3
an insulator configured to connect the heating plate to the reactor housing such that the reactor housing is insulated from the heating plate
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an electrically heated fluidized bed reactor. The electrically heated fluidized bed reactor includes a heating plate disposed on one side of the reactor housing, and a heat transfer member extending from the heating plate to the other side of the reactor housing. Heat generated from the heating plate may be transferred to the other side within the reactor housing through the heat transfer member, thereby uniformly maintaining an internal temperature of the reactor housing.