Field

The invention relates to a fluidizing nozzle for introducing fluid such as gas into a reactor or the like as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1.

The invention also relates to a fluidized bed reactor as defined in the preamble of independent claim 14.

Publication WO 2012/115845 presents a fluidizing bed with fluidizing nozzles.

A problem with such fluidizing bed with a plurality fluidizing nozzles, such as between 10 and 10000 fluidizing nozzles, is that for proper function of the fluidizing bed, the flow of fluid created by fluid fed from the fluidizing nozzles must be uniform throughout the fluidizing bed. This sets requirements on the uniformity of the design and dimensions of the fluidizing nozzles of the fluidizing bed meaning that all fluidizing nozzles should have the same pressure loss at a specified flow. One way to achieve a uniform pressure loss for all fluidizing nozzles is to provide all fluidizing nozzles of a fluidizing bed reactor with fluid discharge openings having the same design and the same dimensions. This also means that wearing and blocking of the fluid discharge opening(s) of at least one fluidizing nozzle of the fluidizing bed reactor affects negatively the uniformity of the flow, because in such situation the fluid discharge opening(s) of said at least one fluidizing nozzle will have a design and dimensions, which do not correspond to the design and the dimensions of the fluid discharge opening(s) of the rest of the fluidizing nozzles of the fluidized bed reactor. Known solutions to this problem is to manufacture the fluidizing nozzles with high accuracy of materials having high heat and high wear resistance due to process requirements. To manufacture a large number of fluidizing nozzles each having fluid discharge opening(s) with exactly the same design and dimensions of materials having high heat and high wear resistance can be difficult and thus handling of these material is quite challenging.

Objective of the invention

The object is to provide a fluidizing nozzle that can be used in fluidized bed reactors for creating an even flow of fluid and to provide a fluidizing bed reactor.

Short description

The fluidizing nozzle is characterized by the definitions of independent claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the fluidizing nozzle are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 13.

The fluidized bed reactor of the invention is correspondingly characterized by the definitions of independent claim 14.

Preferred embodiments of the fluidized bed reactor are defined in the dependent claims 15 List of figures

In the following the invention will described in more detail by referring to the figures of which

Figure 1 shows in cross section view a first embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle where a flow restriction element in the form of a separate part is provided in the feed channel of the fluidizing nozzle,

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a flow restriction element that is in the form of a separate part that can be provided in a feed channel of a fluidizing nozzle,

Figure 3 shows in cross section view a second embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle where the flow restriction element is arranged integrated in a channel inner wall of the feed channel of the fluidizing nozzle,

Figure 4 shows in cross section view a third embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle where the nozzle tube comprises several nozzle tube sections and where a flow restriction element in the form of a separate part that is provided in the feed channel section of one of the several nozzle tube sections,

Figure 5 shows in cross section view a fourth embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle where the nozzle tube comprises several nozzle tube sections and where a flow restriction element is arranged integrated in the channel inner wall of the feed channel section of one of the several nozzle tube sections,

Figure 6 shows in cross section view a detail of a first embodiment of the fluidizing bed reactor, where the fluidized bed reactor comprises a manifold arrangement, and

Figure 7 shows in cross section view a detail of a second embodiment of the fluidizing bed reactor where the fluidized bed reactor comprises a wind box arrangement.

Detailed description of the invention

First the fluidizing nozzle 1 for introducing fluid such as gas into a fluidized bed reactor 2 or the like and some embodiments and variants of the fluidizing nozzle 1 will be described in greater detail.

The fluidizing nozzle 1 comprises a nozzle tube 3 limiting at least a part of a feed channel 4 in which fluid is configured to flow.

The fluidizing nozzle 1 comprises at least one fluid discharge opening 5 arranged near a downstream end 6 of the nozzle tube 3 for discharging fluid from the nozzle tube 3 to the surroundings.

The fluidizing nozzle 1 comprises a pot-like hood 7, which sealingly closes the nozzle tube 3 with a hood cover 8 at the downstream end 6 of the nozzle tube 3 at which said at least one fluid discharge opening 5 is provided, wherein the pot-like hood 7 includes a hood apron 9 connected with the hood cover 8, which hood apron 9 surrounding a part of the nozzle tube 3 by forming an annular cap extending from the downstream end 6 of the nozzle tube 3 at which said at least one fluid discharge opening 5 is provided.

The feed channel 4 is provided with a flow restriction element 10 defining at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 upstream of said at least one fluid discharge opening 5.

The flow restriction element 10 will cause a drop in the fluid pressure as the fluid passes the fluid restriction element 10.

If several fluidizing nozzles 1 having such flow restriction elements are used in a fluidized bed reactor 2, the result of this will be that the flow restriction elements 10 in each fluidizing nozzle 1 will together through the pressure drop produced by the flow restriction elements 10 in each fluidizing nozzle 1 even out possible differences between the fluid flow produced by each fluidizing nozzle 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 already before i.e. upstream of the fluid discharging opening(s) 5 for discharging fluid from the nozzle tube 3 to the surroundings from each fluidizing nozzle 1. Because the pressure drop is in each fluidizing nozzle 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 at the fluid discharging opening(s) 5 for discharging fluid from the nozzle tube 3 to the surroundings from each fluidizing nozzle 1, e.g. due to blocking and/or wear of fluid discharge opening(s) 5 will have a smaller impact on the uniformity of the flow of fluid at a bed floor 17 configured to carry material to be treated in the fluidized bed reactor 2.

Because the flow restriction elements 10 will additionally limit the amount of fluid that can pass the flow restriction element 10, the result will be an uniform flow of fluid throughout a bed floor 17 configured to carry material to be treated in the fluidized bed reactor 2, because possible differences in the fluid flow discharged from individual fluidizing nozzles 1 will be evened out.

Because the fluid pressure is reduced, the fluid discharge opening 5 for discharging fluid from the nozzle tube 3 to the surroundings can be made bigger and the result of this is that the fluid flow velocity of the fluid discharged from the fluid discharge openings 5 will be lower. The result of this is that the impact on particles carried on the bed floor 17 will also be lower in terms of particle breakage, thus reducing the velocity of the particles carried on the fluidized bed 17 and therethrough also possible abrasive and/or erosive wear of the fluidizing nozzles 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 caused by said particles.

The flow restriction element 10 is preferably, but not necessarily, configured to solely allow fluid to pass the flow restriction element 10 through said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 of the flow restriction element 10.

Alternatively or additionally can the flow restriction element 10 be configured to allow fluid to pass the flow restriction element 10 between the flow restriction element 10 and the feed channel 4.

Said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 is preferably, but not necessarily, as presented in figure 2, defined by an upstream toroidal inlet 12 having an inlet diameter A, a downstream outlet cone 13 having an exit diameter B that corresponds to the inlet diameter A of the upstream toroidal inlet 12, and a throat 14 between the upstream toroidal inlet 12 and the downstream outlet cone 13 so that the length C of the upstream toroidal inlet 12 being shorter than the length D of the downstream outlet cone 13 as measured in the direction of flow F. The flow restriction element 10 defines preferably, but not necessarily, only one flow restriction feed channel 11, and said only one flow restriction feed channel 11 is preferably, but not necessarily, in the form of a sonic nozzle. The design and the dimensions of said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 forms preferably, but not necessarily, a venturi as presented in figure 2. Fluid upstream of the throat 14 is at a higher pressure than that downstream of the throat 14. The fluid flowing into said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 is accelerated in the upstream toroidal inlet 12. The velocity of the fluid in the throat 14 approaches preferably, but not necessarily, the speed of sound. Once this condition has been realized the flow rate through said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 will remain constant even if the downstream pressure varies significantly, provided of course, that a pressure difference in the feed channel 4 between a location upstream of the throat 14 of the restriction feed channel 11 and a location downstream of the throat 14 of the restriction feed channel 11 will accordingly change, as well. The velocity of the fluid downstream of the throat 14 will be deaccelerated due to the increasing cross section of the feed channel 4 downstream the throat 14.

The length C of the upstream toroidal inlet 12 is preferably, but not necessarily, between E and 2.2E, where E is the diameter of the throat 14, the inlet diameter A diameter of the upstream toroidal inlet 12 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 2E and 6E, where E is the diameter of the throat 14, the length D of the downstream outlet cone 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 10E and 50E, where E is the diameter of the throat 14, the exit diameter B of the downstream outlet cone 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 2E and 6E, where E is the diameter of the throat 14, and the slant angle F of the downstream outlet cone 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 1 and 10° such as between 2 and 7°.

In the fluidizing nozzle 1, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged inside the part of the feed channel 4 limited by the nozzle tube 3, as in the first embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle 1 illustrated in figure 1.

In the fluidizing nozzle 1, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged immovably in the part of the feed channel 4 limited by the nozzle tube 3.

In the fluidizing nozzle 1, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged integrated in a channel inner wall of the part of the feed channel 4 limited by the nozzle tube 3, as in the second embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle 1 illustrated in figure 3.

In the fluidizing nozzle 1, the part of the feed channel 4 limited by the nozzle tube 3 can have an essentially uniform cross section form between the downstream end 6 of the nozzle tube 3 at which said at least one fluid discharge opening 5 is provided and an upstream inlet end 22 of the nozzle tube 3, and the flow restriction element 10 is preferably, but not necessarily, in the form of a part separate from the nozzle tube 3 immovable arranged in the part of the feed channel 4 limited by the nozzle tube 3.

In the fluidizing nozzle 1, the nozzle tube 3 can, as in the third embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle illustrated in figure 4 and in the fourth embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle illustrated in figure 5, comprise several nozzle tube sections 15 each defining a feed channel section 16 so that said several nozzle tube sections 15 are connected together so that the feed channel sections 16 of said several nozzle tube sections 15 forming the part of the feed channel limited by the nozzle tube 3, and so that at least one feed channel section 16 of said several nozzle tube sections 15 being provided with the flow restriction element 10 defining said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11.

If the nozzle tube 3 of the fluidizing nozzle 1 comprises several nozzle tube sections 15 as presented, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged inside the feed channel section 16 of one said several nozzle tube sections 15, as in the third embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle illustrated in figure 4.

If the nozzle tube 3 of the fluidizing nozzle 1 comprises several nozzle tube sections 15 as presented, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged immovably in the feed channel section 16 of one of said several nozzle tube sections 15.

If the nozzle tube 3 of the fluidizing nozzle 1 comprises several nozzle tube sections 15 as presented, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged integrated in the channel inner wall limiting the feed channel section 16 of one of said several nozzle tube sections 15, as in the fourth embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle illustrated in figure 5.

Next, the fluidized bed reactor 2 and some embodiments and variants of the fluidized bed reactor 2 will be described in greater detail.

The fluidized bed reactor 2 comprises a bed floor 17 having an upper material carrying surface 18 and a lower surface 19.

The fluidized bed reactor 2 comprises a plurality of fluidizing nozzles 1 projecting through the bed floor 17.

The fluidized bed reactor 2 comprises a fluid distribution arrangement 20 provided with a plurality of fluid outlet means 21 and with a pump means 23 configured to create a flow of fluid in the fluid distribution arrangement 20. Because fluid will flow, fluid will have a fluid pressure in the fluid distribution arrangement 20. This follows from law of nature.

The fluid distribution arrangement 20 can for example be of manifold type as illustrated in figure 6 or of wind box type as illustrated in figure 7.

Each fluid outlet means 21 of the fluid distribution arrangement 20 is in fluid connection with one fluidizing nozzle of said plurality of fluidizing nozzles 1.

The fluid distribution arrangement 20 is arranged at a level below the bed floor 17.

Each fluidizing nozzle 1 of said plurality of fluidizing nozzles 1 comprise a nozzle tube 3 having an upstream inlet end 22 connected to one fluid outlet means 21 of said plurality of fluid outlet means 21. The nozzle tube 3 limits at least a part of a feed channel 4 in which fluid is configured to flow.

Each fluidizing nozzle 1 of said plurality of fluidizing nozzles 1 comprise least one fluid discharge opening 5 arranged near a downstream end 6 of the nozzle tube 3 for discharging fluid from the nozzle tube 3 to the surroundings.

Each fluidizing nozzle 1 of said plurality of fluidizing nozzles 1 comprise a pot-like hood 7, which sealingly closes the nozzle tube 3 with a hood cover 8 of the pot-like hood 7 at the downstream end 6 of the nozzle tube 3 at which said at least one fluid discharge opening 5 is provided. The pot- like hood 7 includes a hood apron 9 connected with the hood cover 8, which hood apron 9 surrounding a part of the nozzle tube 3 by forming an annular cap extending from the downstream end 6 of the nozzle tube 3 at which said at least one fluid discharge opening 5 is provided.

Each nozzle tube 3 of each fluidizing nozzle 1 defines together with one fluid outlet means 21 of the fluid distribution arrangement 20 to which the nozzle tube 3 is connected the feed channel 4 in which fluid is configured to flow.

In the fluidized bed reactor 2 each feed channel 4 is provided with a flow restriction element 10 defining at least one flow restriction feed channel 11. The flow restriction element 10 is provided upstream of said at least one fluid discharge opening 5 of the fluidizing nozzle 1.

The flow restriction element 10 will cause a drop in the fluid pressure as the fluid passes the fluid restriction element 10.

The result of this will be that the flow restriction elements 10 in each fluidizing nozzle 1 will together through the pressure drop produced by the flow restriction elements 10 in each fluidizing nozzle 1 even out possible differences between the fluid flow produced by each fluidizing nozzle 1 on the fluidized bed reactor 2 already before i.e. upstream of the fluid discharging opening(s) 5 for discharging fluid from the nozzle tube 3 to the surroundings from each fluidizing nozzle 1. Thus the pressure drop is in each fluidizing nozzle 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 at the fluid discharging opening(s) 5 for discharging fluid from the nozzle tube 3 to the surroundings from each fluidizing nozzle 1, e.g. due to blocking and/or wear of fluid discharge opening(s) 5 will have a smaller impact on the uniformity of the flow of fluid at the bed floor 17 configured to carry material to be treated in the fluidized bed reactor 2.

Because the flow restriction elements 10 in each feed channel 4 will additionally limit the amount of fluid that can pass the flow restriction element 10 in the feed channel, the result will be an uniform flow of fluid throughout a bed floor 17 configured to carry material to be treated in the fluidized bed reactor 2. because possible differences in the fluid flow discharged from individual fluidizing nozzles 1 will be evened out.

Because the fluid pressure is reduced, the fluid discharge opening 5 for discharging fluid from the nozzle tube 3 to the surroundings can be made bigger and the result of this is that the fluid flow velocity of the fluid discharged from the fluid discharge openings 5 will be lower. The result of this is that the impact on particles in terms of particle breakage carried on the bed floor 17 will also be lower, thus reducing the velocity of the particles carried on the fluidized bed 17 and therethrough also possible abrasive and/or erosive wear of the fluidizing nozzles 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 caused by said particles.

Each flow restriction element 10 or at least some of the flow restriction elements 10 is preferably, but not necessarily, configured to solely allow fluid to pass the flow restriction element 10 through said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 in the flow restriction element 10.

Alternatively or additionally can each flow restriction element 10 at least some of the flow restriction elements 10 be configured to allow fluid to pass the flow restriction element 10 between the flow restriction element 10 and the feed channel 4.

Said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 of each flow restriction element 10 or of at least some of the flow restriction elements 10 is preferably, but not necessarily, as presented in figure 2, defined by a upstream toroidal inlet 12 having an inlet diameter A, a downstream outlet cone 13 having an exit diameter B that corresponds to the inlet diameter A of the upstream toroidal inlet 12, and a throat 14 between the upstream toroidal inlet 12 and the downstream outlet cone 13, so that the length C of the upstream toroidal inlet 12 is preferably, but not necessarily, shorter than the length D of the downstream outlet cone 13 as measured in the direction of flow F. The flow restriction element 10 defining preferably, but not necessarily, only one flow restriction feed channel 11, and said only one flow restriction feed channel 11 is preferably, but not necessarily, in the form of a sonic nozzle. The design and the dimensions of said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 forms preferably, but not necessarily, a venturi. Fluid upstream of the throat 14 is at a higher pressure than that downstream of the throat 14. The fluid flowing into said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 is accelerated in the upstream toroidal inlet 12. The velocity of the fluid in the throat 14 approaches preferably, but not necessarily, the speed of sound. Once this condition has been realized the flow rate through said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11 will remain constant even if the downstream pressure varies significantly, provided of course, that a pressure difference in the feed channel 4 between a location upstream of the throat 14 of the restriction feed channel 11 and a location downstream of the throat 14 of the restriction feed channel 11 is accordingly changed as well. The velocity of the fluid downstream of the throat 14 will be deaccelerated due to the increasing cross section of the feed channel 4 downstream the throat 14

The length C of the upstream toroidal inlet 12 is preferably, but not necessarily, between E and 2.2E, where E is the diameter of the throat 14, the inlet diameter A diameter of the upstream toroidal inlet 12 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 2E and 6E, where E is the diameter of the throat 14, the length D of the downstream outlet cone 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 10E and 50E, where E is the diameter of the throat 14, the exit diameter B of the downstream outlet cone 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 2E and 6E, where E is the diameter of the throat 14, and the slant angle F of the downstream outlet cone 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 1 and 10° such as between 2 and 7°.

In each fluidizing nozzle 1 or in at least some of the fluidizing nozzles 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged inside the feed channel 4, as illustrated in figures 6 and 7.

In each fluidizing nozzle 1 or in at least some of the fluidizing nozzles 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged immovably in the feed channel 4.

In each fluidizing nozzle 1 or in at least some of the fluidizing nozzles 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged integrated in the part of the feed channel 4 limited by the nozzle tube 3, as illustrated in figure 3.

In each fluidizing nozzle 1 or in at least some of the fluidizing nozzles 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 the part of the feed channel 4 limited by the nozzle tube 3 can have an essentially uniform cross section form between the downstream end 6 of the nozzle tube 3 at which said at least one fluid discharge opening 5 is provided and an upstream inlet end 22 of the nozzle tube 3, and the flow restriction element 10 is preferably, but not necessarily, formed by a nozzle element in the form of a separate part that is immovable arranged in the part of the feed channel 4 limited by the nozzle tube 3.

In each fluidizing nozzle 1 or in at least some of the fluidizing nozzles 1 of the fluidized bed reactor 2 the nozzle tube 3 can comprise several nozzle tube sections 15 each defining a feed channel section 16, so that said several nozzle tube sections 15 are connected together so that the feed channel sections 16 of said several nozzle tube sections 15 forming the part of the feed channel limited by the nozzle tube 3, and so that at least one feed channel section 16 of said several nozzle tube sections 15 is provided with the flow restriction element 10 defining said at least one flow restriction feed channel 11.

If the nozzle tube 3 of each fluidizing nozzle 1 or of at least some of the fluidizing nozzles 1 comprises several nozzle tube sections 15 as presented, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged inside the feed channel section 16 of one said several nozzle tube sections 15.

If the nozzle tube 3 of each fluidizing nozzle 1 or of at least some of the fluidizing nozzles 1 comprises several nozzle tube sections 15 as presented, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged immovably in the feed channel section 16 of one of said several nozzle tube sections 15, as illustrated in figure 4.

If the nozzle tube 3 of each fluidizing nozzle 1 or of at least some of the fluidizing nozzles 1 comprises several nozzle tube sections 15 as presented, the flow restriction element 10 can be arranged integrated in the channel inner wall limiting the feed channel section 16 of one of said several nozzle tube sections 15, as illustrated in figure 5.

It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advanced, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.