Hydrodynamics in a Circulating Fluidized Bed with Annular Furnace and Six Parallel Cyclones

Systematic measurements were conducted on a cold CFB with annular furnace and six parallel cyclones to study gas-solids flow in the annular furnace and flow non-uniformity among six cyclones. The results show that axial solids holdup in the annular furnace decreases exponentially with height, similar to the conventional rectangular furnace. The uniform transverse distribution of solids holdup suggests a good gas-solids mixing in the annular furnace. The annular furnace presents the core/double-annulus flow structure, and it results in enhanced gas-solids back-mixing than the conventional core/annulus flow structure. The gas-solids flow of the inner wall-layer and the outer wall-layer is very close at most part of the furnace height, and the wall-layer thickness decreases with height. Flow non-uniformity exists among six parallel cyclones in the annular furnace CFB. But non-uniform distribution of solids circulating rates and cyclone pressure drops show no regularity, and the flow non-uniformity is no larger than the CFBs with conventional furnace. Under typical operating conditions, the relative deviation of six solids circulating rates is 8.0%.