Self-segregation of high-volatile fuel particles during devolatilization in a fluidized bed reactor

The interaction between fuel particles and incipiently bubbling gas fluidized beds during devolatilization has been investigated by X-ray imaging. The fuel consisted of a ligneous biomass (Robinia pseudoacacia) reduced into millimeter-sized particles and doped with lead nitrate in order to make particles visible upon X-ray irradiation. A purposely designed single-particle-injector was used to impulsively introduce fuel particles one at a time at a given depth into the fluidized bed. Experiments highlighted three main features of the phenomenology, namely: (a) the formation of (endogenous) volatile matter bubbles around devolatilizing fuel particles; (b) the uprise of endogenous bubbles; and (c) the uprise of fuel particles closely associated to endogenous bubble motion. Bubble and particle trajectories and bubble cross sections as functions of time were worked out in order to assess fuel particle segregation times and endogenous bubble growth rate. The choice of operating under incipient bubbling conditions enabled thorough assessment of interactive processes establishing between gas-emitting particles and the fluidized suspension. The formation, growth and motion of endogenous volatile bubbles and the associated motion of the fuel particle could be characterized without the perturbation caused by exogenous gas bubbles (i.e. bubbles formed under freely bubbling conditions). This represents a first step towards the characterization of the interaction between gas-emitting particles and freely bubbling beds.