Avaliou-se as emissões dos gasses poluentes 'SO IND.2', NOx, THC e CO, e efeitos de escala de reator no processo de absorção de 'SO IND.2' por calcário em leitos fluidizados borbulhantes atmosféricos sob combustão de carvão mineral com alto teor de cinza e enxofre. Dois combustores de carvão em leito fluidizado foram utilizados: uma planta de bancada de seção circular de 0,16 m de diâmetro, e uma planta piloto de seção quadrada de 0,5 x 0,5 m. Foram controlados, tendo em vista situações operacionais típicas, o excesso de ar, a velocidade de fluidização (U/'U IND.MF'), a granulometria do particulado, e a temperatura do processo. As variáveis principais de análise foram a relação Ca/S de alimentação, altura do nível do leito e geometria do reator. A primeira foi variada pelo controle das taxas de alimentação de carvão e calcário e a segunda pelo controle da altura do leito expandido. Foram medidas as concentrações de gases na descarga do reator ('SO IND.2', 'O IND.2', 'CO', 'CO IND.2', NOx e THC), e as distribuições granulométricas e composição química dos materiais presentes no leito, elutriado e sangrado. Os resultados obtidos na planta de bancada foram comparados aos resultados obtidos na planta piloto. Indicaram que as diferenças encontradas são devidas principalmente a condições operacionais diferentes. O efeito de escala do reator, para as dimensões das plantas de bancada e piloto deste trabalho, mostrou-se desprezível. / Gas emissions of 'SO IND.2', NOx, THC and CO, and reactor scale effects were evaluated for the process of absorption of 'SO IND.2' by limestone in atmospheric bubbling fluidized bed combustion of high ash high sulfur coal. Two different fluidized bed reactor plants were used: a bench cylindrical section reactor 0.16 m internal diameter, and a pilot square section reactor 0.5 x 0.5 m. Air excess, fluidization velocity(U/'U IND.MF'), particle size and process temperature were established having in view typical operational conditions. The parameters varied for analysis were the Ca/S feeding ratio, height of the bed, and geometry of the reactor. The first was varied by controlling the feed rates of coal and limestone, and the second by controlling the height of the expanded bed. Gas concentrations were measured at the reactors exit ('SO IND.2', 'O IND.2', CO, 'CO IND.2', NOx and THC). Size distributions and chemical composition were determined for the bed, overflow and elutriated materials. The results obtained in the bench plant were compared to those obtained in the pilot plant. The differences found between the results of the two plants were attributed mainly to differences in operational conditions. The effect of scale, for the dimensions of the plants considered in this work, resulted not significant.

O hidrogênio é estudado como alternativa ao uso de combustíveis fósseis para geração de energia, uma vez que é um combustível renovável. Entre os processos de produção de hidrogênio destaca-se o processo fermentativo que possibilita unir tratamento de efluente e geração de energia. Uma das alternativas para esta produção é a utilização do reator anaeróbio de leito fluidificado (RALF). Dentre os resíduos industriais que podem ser utilizados para a produção de hidrogênio está o soro de queijo que, se descartado incorretamente, pode causar danos ao meio ambiente. Neste sentido, o presente estudo teve como principal objetivo avaliar a capacidade de produção contínua de hidrogênio, sob condições termófilas (55°C), a partir de diferentes concentrações de soro de queijo e tempos de detenção hidráulica (TDH) em RALF. Foram utilizados dois reatores, denominados R1 e R2 , no qual R1 manteve-se com concentração fixa de 5 gDQO.L-1, com variações de TDH de 8, 6, 4, 2, 1 e 0,5 hora e em R2 o TDH manteve-se fixo em 6 horas e variações de concentrações de 3, 5, 7 e 10 gDQO.L-1. Foi observado em R1 o comportamento de elevação de produção volumétrica de H2 (PVH) a partir da diminuição do TDH. A máxima PVH obtida foi de 2,9 L.h-1.L-1 em R1 para o TDH de 0,5 hora. No entanto, verificou-se a diminuição do rendimento de hidrogênio (HY) com a aplicação de TDHs reduzidos, alcançando valor máximo de 3,3 molH2.mol-1 lactose para o TDH de 4 horas. Para R2, o valor máximo de PVH de 0,854 L.h-1.L-1 para concentração de substrato de 7 g.L-1. Já para HY, o maior valor encontrado foi de 2,6 molH2.mol-1 lactose para a concentração de substrato de 3 g.L-1, uma vez que o aumento da concentração causou a diminuição de HY. O conteúdo de hidrogênio no biogás manteve-se na faixa de 48,2-54,2% e 39,8-48,4% para R1 e R2 respectivamente. Em ambos os reatores, os principais metabólitos encontrados nos efluentes foram ácido acético e ácido butírico. / Hydrogen is studied as an alternative to fossil fuels for power generation, since it is a renewable fuel. Between the processes of hydrogen production stands out the fermentation process that allows to merge wastewater treatment and power generation. An alternative to this production is the use of anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR). Among the industrial wastes can be used for hydrogen production is cheese whey that if improperly discarded, may cause damage to the environment. In this sense, the present study aimed to evaluate the ability of continuous hydrogen production under thermophilic conditions (55°C), from different concentrations of cheese whey and hydraulic retention time (HRT) in AFBR. Two reactors were used, denominated R1 and R2, in which R1 was maintained at a fixed concentration of 5gCOD.L-1 with variations in HRT of 8, 6, 4, 2, 1 and 0.5 hour and R2 kept fixed HRT at 6 hours, and changes in concentration of 3, 5, 7 and 10 gCOD.L-1. In R1, it was observed a volumetric H2 production (HPR) increase behavior from the HRT decrease. The maximum HPR obtained was 2.9 L.h-1.L-1 at HRT of 0.5 hour. However, there was a decrease in H2 yield (HY) with the application of reduce HRT, reaching maximum value of 3.3 molH2.mol-1 lactose at HRT of 4 hours. In R2, the maximum value of HPR was 0,854 L.h-1.L-1 for substrate concentration of 7 gCOD.L-1. The maximum HY obtained was 2.6 molH2.mol-1 lactose for concentration of 3 gCOD.L-1, once the value of HY decrease behavior from the concentration of cheese whey increase. The H2 content in biogas kept in range of 48.2-54.2% and 39.8-48.4% for R1 and R2, respectively. In both reactors, the main metabolites found were acetic and butyric acids.

Dada a complexidade hidrodinâmica de escoamentos gás-sólidos em leitos fluidizados muitas pesquisas têm sido realizadas abordando questões relativas a natureza altamente instável desse processo de fluidização. O conhecimento dessa hidrodinâmica permite estabelecer os parâmetros corretos para reação e transporte de massa em um reator de leito fluidizado, permitindo tomada de decisões à respeito do desempenho do reator. Modelos Eulerianos do contínuo, onde as fases coexistentes são tratadas como meios contínuos interpenetrantes, representam a aproximação mais prática para simular a hidrodinâmica de escoamentos gás-sólido em reatores de leito fluidizado. Aplicando-se procedimentos de médias de Euler obtêm-se os modelos hidrodinâmicos A e B desenvolvidos por GIDASPOW [27] do IIT/ANL, representando as equações conservativas e constitutivas de modelos de duas fases separadas para escoamentos gás-sólido. Neste trabalho, aplica-se um modelo Euleriano de duas fases separadas, desenvolvendo simulações numéricas para diferentes dimensões de colunas ascendentes de leito fluidizado circulante. Para resolução das equações discretas no domínio bidimensional, aplicam-se malhas refinadas. Analisam-se os efeitos nos resultados de simulação causados por essas malhas. Apresenta-se uma discussão geral sobre o modelo aplicado em torno dos resultados obtidos. / Due to the hydrodynamic complexity of gas-solid flows in fluidized beds, several researches have been conducted addressing issues concerning the highly unstable nature of this fluidization process. The knownledge of its hydrodynamics allows establishing the correct parameters for the reaction and mass transport in a fluidized bed reactor, improving its performance. Continuous Eulerian models, where the phases are treated as a continuum, represent the most practical approach to simulate the hydrodynamics of gas-solid flows in fluidized bed reactors. By applying Euler average procedures, it is possible to obtain the hydrodynamic models A and B, developed by GIDASPOW [27] at IIT/ANL. These models represent the conservative and constitutive equations for the models of two separate phases for gas-solid flows. In this work, an Eulerian two-fluids model is applied, developing numerical simulations for different risers of circulating fluidized bed. For the resolution of the discrete equations in the two-dimensional domain, refined meshes are used. An analysis of their effects on the results of the simulation is performed. A general discussion about the results obtained by the model applied is also presented.

Reatores de leito fluidizado circulante são caracterizados por escoamentos altamente heterogêneos e instáveis. Devido a isso, operam em regimes pseudo-estacionários ou estatisticamente permanentes, onde os parâmetros do escoamento oscilam em torno de valores médios bem definidos. Neste trabalho estuda-se o comportamento de uma solução numérica para um escoamento típico de reatores de leito fluidizado circulante na região estatisticamente permanente. A simulação numérica foi realizada com o modelo de dois fluidos. A partir dos dados de simulação são estabelecidas médias e auto-correlações para as várias variáveis de interesse, considerando-se diferentes tempos de simulação ou diferentes tempos de observação. A partir destes resultados discute-se a questão do tempo mínimo de simulação necessário para que os resultados temporais médios sejam representativos do processo. Embora os resultados sugiram que 10 segundos de fluidização sejam suficientes para a geração de resultados médios temporais representativos, uma demonstração mais rigorosa permanece por ser executada. / Circulating fluidized bed reactors are characterized by highly heterogenic and instable flow. Due to this flow, the reactors operate under either pseudo-stationary or statistically permanent patterns, where the flowing parameters vary among well defined average values. This paper aims to study the behavior of a numeric solution for a typical flow of circulating fluidized bed reactors in the statistically permanent region. The numeric simulation was performed with the two-fluid model. From the simulation data both average and self-correlations are established for several variables of interest, considering either different simulation time or different observation time. From these results, the minimum simulation time necessary is discussed, so that the average temporal results can be considered representative in the process. Although the results suggest 10 seconds of fluidization are enough to generate the average temporal results, a more rigorous demonstration is supposed to be executed.

The thesis is focused on the possibility of using secondary energy resources as an additive to concrete to improve some of its resulting properties. The theoretical part is devoted to the problems of shrinkage and prominence hydration process during hydration of the concrete. This section also contains the results of research work from domestic and foreign sources of high temperature fly ash and fluidized bed combustion fly ash use and their using in concrete. The practical part verifies the possibility of using these materials and their combination as an additive to concrete with impact on the physical and mechanical properties.

Secondary energy products are used in the construction industry for a long time. More strict environmental limits for emissions to air have created new technologies combustion of materials in thermal power plants. In this way combustion are produced a new secondary energy products. It is an attempt to find of suitable use for these products. Their use will have ecological impact on the environment and it will allow prepare of new compositions of higher utility properties. The aim of this study was to develop a new mixture, using the new secondary energy products, for production concrete with high utility properties.

Orientador: Ivonete Ávila / Resumo: O leito fluidizado é um sistema que é utilizado na indústria para diversos tipos de aplicações, variando desde craqueamento de petróleo e processamento de materiais como silício e urânio até secagem de grãos. Dentre esses diversos processos, o leito fluidizado também pode ser aplicado em processos termoquímicos como combustão e gaseificação de biomassa, apresentando vantagens como alta eficiência, perfil térmico homogêneo, além de flexibilidade de combustível. No entanto, o uso da biomassa no leito ainda gera algumas dificuldades, principalmente para partículas como a casca de arroz, que não fluidizam tão facilmente. Para contornar esse problema, normalmente é acrescentado um material inerte e barato como a areia. Essa mistura binária de biomassa e inerte pode gerar outros problemas, como segregação do material particulado, caminhos preferenciais do gás e pontos de estagnação, o que reduz consideravelmente a eficiência do sistema. Portanto, passa a ser importante entender como os diferentes parâmetros existentes no leito influenciam no comportamento dessa mistura para conseguir evitar esses problemas. Nesse trabalho foi feito uma análise comparativa avaliando 3 fatores: tipo de placa distribuidora (perfurada e com injetores tuyere), responsável por injetar o gás de fluidização no leito, a granulometria do material inerte (675 e 325 μm) e porcentagem de casca de arroz (1% até 10% da massa total). Esses fatores foram alterados separadamente para explorar a influência que eles c... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The fluidized bed is a system used in the industry for a variety of applications, ranging from oil cracking and processing of materials such as silicon and uranium to grain drying. Among these several processes, the fluidized bed can also be applied in thermochemical processes such as biomass combustion and gasification, presenting advantages such as high efficiency, homogeneous thermal profile, and fuel flexibility. However, the use of the biomass in the bed still generates some difficulties, especially for particles like the rice husk, that do not fluidize so easily. To work around this problem, an inert, inexpensive material such as sand is usually added to the bed. This binary mixture of biomass and inert can create other problems, such as segregation of the particulate solids, gas preference paths and stagnation points, which considerably reduces the efficiency of the system. Thus, it becomes important to understand how these different parameters in the bed influence the behavior of the mixture to avoid these problems. In this work a comparative analysis was carried out evaluating 3 factors: type of distribution plate (perforated and with tuyere injectors), responsible for injecting the fluidization gas in the bed, the inert granulometry (675 and 325 μm) and percentage of rice husk (1% to 10% of the total mass). These factors were altered separately to explore the influence they cause on the level of bed mixing between the two particulates (mixing index) as well as the v... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The control of particle emissions from an oil refinery is often difficult, due to changing operational conditions and the limited range of available treatment options. Excessive particle emissions have often been attributed start up problems with Fluidized Catalytic Cracker Units (FCCU) and little information is available regarding the exact composition and nature of these excessive emissions. Due to the complex nature of a FCCU, it has in the past been difficult to identify and control emissions, without the use of expensive end of pipe technologies. An Australian Oil Refinery, concerned with their catalyst emissions, sponsored this study of FCCU particle emissions. Due to the industrial nature of the project, a holistic approach to the management of emissions was taken, instead of a detailed investigation of a single issue. By looking at the broader range of issues, practical and useful outcomes can be achieved for the refinery. Initially, detailed emissions samplings were conducted to investigate the degree of particle emissions under start up conditions. Stack emissions were collected during a standard start up, and analysed to determine the particle size distribution and metal concentration of the emitted material. Three distinct stages of emissions were discovered, initially a high concentration of larger particles, followed by a peak in the very fine particles and finally a reduction of particle emissions to a more steady or normal operational state. The variation in particle emissions was caused by operational conditions, hardware design and catalyst characteristics. Fluctuations in the gas velocity through the system altered the ability of the cyclones to collect catalyst material. Also, the low bed level allowed air bypass to occur more readily, contributing to the increased emissions levels seen during the initial stage of the start up. Reduced fluidity characteristics of the circulating catalyst also affected the diplegs operations, altering the collection efficiency of the cyclone. During the loading of catalyst into the system, abraded material was quickly lost due to its particle size, contributing to fine particle emissions levels. More importantly, thermal fracturing of catalyst particles occurred when the cold catalyst was fed into the hot regenerator. Catalyst particles split causing the generation of large amounts of fine particle material, which is easily lost from the system. This loading of catalyst directly linked to the period of high concentration of fine particles in the emissions stream. It was found that metals, and in particular iron, calcium and silicon form a thick layer on the outside of the catalyst, with large irregular shaped metal ridges, forming along the surface of the particle. These ridges reduce the fluidity of the catalyst, leading to potential disruptions in the regenerator. In addition to this, the metal rich ridges are preferentially removed via attrition, causing metal rich material to be emitted into the atmosphere. To overcome these high particle emissions rates from the FCCU the refinery should only use calcinated catalyst to reduce the influence of thermal process and particle fracture and generation. Although the calcinated catalyst can fracture when added to the system, it is far less than that obtained with uncalicinated catalyst. To further reduce the risk of particle fracture due to thermal stresses the refinery should consider reducing the temperature gradients between the hot and cold catalyst. Due to the economics involved with the regenerator, possible pre-warming of catalyst before addition into system is the preferred option. This pre-heating of catalyst should also incorporate a controlled attrition stage to help remove the build up of metals on the surface of the particles whilst allowing this material to be collected before it can be released into the atmosphere. The remove of the metal crust will also improve the fluidity of the system and reduce the chance of catalyst blockages occurring. Finally, modelling of the system has shown that control of key parameters such as particle size and gas velocity are essential to the management of air emissions. The refinery should look at adjusting start up procedures to remove fluctuations in these key parameters. Also the refinery should be careful in using correlation found in the literature to predicted operational conditions in the system as these correlations are misleading when used under industrial situations.

This thesis analyses two strategies for decreasing anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions: to capture and store CO2, and to increase the use of biomass. First, two concepts for CO2 capture with low capture penalties are evaluated. The concepts are an integrated gasification combined cycle where the oxygen is supplied by a membrane reactor, and a hybrid cycle where the CO2 is captured at elevated pressure. Although the cycles have comparatively high efficiencies and low penalties, they illustrate the inevitable fact that capturing CO2 will always induce significant efficiency penalties. Other strategies are also needed if CO2 emissions are to be forcefully decreased. An alternative is increased use of biomass, which partially could be used for production of motor fuels (biofuels). This work examines arguments for directing biomass to the transport sector, analyses how biofuels (and also some other means) may be used to reduce CO2 emissions and increase security of motor fuel supply. The thesis also explores the possibility of reducing CO2 emissions by comparatively easy and cost-efficient CO2 capture from concentrated CO2 streams available in some types of biofuel plants. Many conclusions of the thesis could be associated with either of three meanings of the word sense: First, there is reason in biofuel production – since it e.g. reduces oil dependence. From a climate change mitigation perspective, however, motor fuel production is often a CO2-inefficient use of biomass, but the thesis explores how biofuels’ climate change mitigation effects may be increased by introducing low-cost CO2 capture. Second, the Swedish promotion of biofuels appears to have been governed more by a feeling for attaining other goals than striving for curbing climate change. Third, it seems to have been the prevalent opinion among politicians that the advantages of biofuels – among them their climate change mitigation benefits – are far greater than the disadvantages and that they should be promoted. Another conclusion of the thesis is that biofuels alone are not enough to drastically decrease transport CO2 emissions; a variety of measures are needed such as fuels from renewable electricity and improvements of vehicle fuel economy. / QC 20100823

Carbon dioxide hydrates were synthesized in a 0.10m I.D. and 1.22m tall bubble column equipped with a cooling jacket for heat removal. Visual observations at different driving forces (pressures between 2.75 and 3.60 MPa and temperatures between 0 and 8ºC) were recorded with a digital camera through a sight glass of 118.8 by 15.6 mm. The superficial gas velocity was varied from 20 to 50 mm/s to attain different levels of turbulence in the liquid. The growth rate was found to be dependent on the sequence/method used to reach the operating temperature and pressure. A greater supersaturation was obtained when the system temperature and pressure were reached with very low or no bubble-induced mixing. As a result, hydrates nucleated and grew immediately when starting the gas flow with the reactor volume being quickly filled with hydrates. Moreover, the hydrate growth rate and solution final density were higher when operating conditions partially condensed CO2 resulting in greater interphase mass transfer rates. In parallel, since hydrate formation is an exothermic process and the reaction is often limited by the rate of heat removal, heat transfer measurements were achieved in a simulated hydrate environment. The instantaneous heat transfer coefficient and related statistics gave insight on the role of bubbles on heat transfer and hydrodynamics.