Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is a technique for separating pure carbon dioxide from the combustion of fuels. The oxygen to burn the fuel comes from the lattice oxygen contained in solid particles of an inorganic oxide (the 'oxygen carrier'), instead of from oxygen in the air. Thus only CO2 and water leave the combustor, or fuel reactor. Next, the water is condensed, leaving pure CO2. The oxygen carrier is regenerated by oxidising it in air in a second reactor, called the air reactor. Accordingly, a stream of pure carbon dioxide can be produced, uncontaminated with gases such as nitrogen, normally present when the fuel burns in air. This intrinsic separation with CLC enables CO2 to be separated more efficiently than with other techniques, such as post-combustion scrubbing of carbon dioxide from stack gases with amine-based solvents. The design of a CLC system and its performance within an electricity system represents a multi-scale problem, ranging from the behaviour of single particles of oxygen carrier within a reactor to how a CLC-based power plant would perform in an electricity grid. To date, these scales have been studied in isolation, with little regard for the vital interactions and dependences amongst them. This Dissertation addresses this problem by considering CLC holistically for the first time, using a multi-scale approach. A stochastic model was developed, combining the particle-and reactor-scales of CLC. It included an appropriate particle model and can be coupled to a detailed reactor model. The combination represented a significant change from existing approaches, uniquely accounting for all the important factors affecting the assemblage of particles performing in the CLC reactors. It was used to determine the regimes of operation in which CLC is sensitive to factors such as the manner in which the particles are reacting, the residence time distribution of particles in the two reactors, the particle size distribution and the reaction history of particles. To demonstrate that the approach could simulate specific configurations of CLC, as well as a general system, the model was compared with results from experiments in which CLC with methane was conducted in a laboratory-scale circulating fluidised bed. The long-term performance of oxygen carrier materials is important, because, in an industrial process, they would be expected to function satisfactorily for many thousands of hours of operation. Long-term experiments were conducted to evaluate the resistance of different oxygen carrier materials to physical and chemical attrition. The evolution of their chemical kinetics was also determined. The results were used to evaluate the impact of different oxygen carrier materials in a fuel reactor at industrial-scale. Finally, a theoretical approach was developed to simulate how a fleet of CLC-based power plants would perform within the UK's national grid. By understanding how different parameters such as capital cost, operating cost and measures of efficiency, compared with other methods of generation offering carbon reduction, desirable design modifications and needs for improvement for CLC were identified by utilising the theoretical and experimental work conducted at the particle- and reactor-scales.

L'utilisation des réacteurs en lit fluidisé pour l'étude cinétique des réactions hétérogènes présente de nombreux avantages sur les autres types de réacteurs car les coefficients de transfert de chaleur et de matière sont généralement plus élevés que dans tout autre contacteur. En effet, on arrive dans ce type de réacteur à diminuer considérablement la période transitoire, à travailler dans des conditions pratiquement isothermes quelle que soit l'importance de la charge et à réaliser la transformation simultanée de toutes les particules grâce au mélangeage quasi parfait des solides. Cependant, le débit du gaz doit être compris entre des limites assez étroites. L'existence d'un gradient de concentration dans la phase fluide, les phénomènes d'attrition et d'agglomération, s'ils compliquent l'étude théorique la rendent en même temps plus proche des conditions rencontrées dans l'industrie. Nous présentons cette technique des réacteurs à lit fluidisé pour l'étude de la décomposition thermique de l'hydrogénocarbonate de sodium suivant la réaction globale : Dans le procédé industriel cette décomposition est réalisée dans un four tournant dans lequel la couche de particules se rapproche d'une couche fluidisée. Les résultats présentés ne constituent que la première étape d'un travail beaucoup plus vaste. Nous nous sommes particulièrement attachés à déterminer l'influence sur la cinétique de décomposition des paramètres agissant sur la texture du lit fluidisé.

Th. doct.-ing.--Génie chim.--Toulouse--I.N.P., 1985. N°: 357.

A fluidização é definida como a suspensão de partículas de um solo granular devido à ação de um fluxo ascendente, que cria uma força de arrasto suficiente para suportar o peso próprio das partículas, produzindo uma zona fluidizada. Neste trabalho são discutidos os mecanismos e os conceitos envolvidos na fluidização de solos arenosos com a utilização de jatos de água, que futuramente podem ser associados a novas tecnologias de instalação de ancoragens de plataformas de petróleo offshore. O estudo foi baseado em ensaios realizados em câmaras de calibração retangulares, com paredes em acrílico, preenchidas com areias de granulometria distintas, compactadas com densidade relativa de 50% e 100%. O sistema de jateamento consiste basicamente em uma bomba centrífuga que succiona a água armazenada em um reservatório e a conduz, através de um circuito hidráulico, à extremidade de tubos metálicos verticais, responsáveis pelo jateamento de água. Foram utilizados tubos com diferentes diâmetros e diversas velocidades de saída do jato. Iniciado o jateamento, tem-se a formação de um leito fluidizado, com formato côncavo e interface bem definida com a zona não fluidizada. O jato de água penetra certa profundidade no interior do leito fluidizado até ser defletido, no sentido ascendente, carregando partículas de areia que são depositadas ao redor da zona fluidizada. Após a formação de uma geometria fluidizada máxima, os tubos são reposicionados em uma nova profundidade. A fluidização ao longo da profundidade apresenta comportamento definido, com uma geometria inicialmente estável, que alcança uma condição de instabilidade em determinada profundidade, até sofrer sucessivos fechamentos, formando uma cavidade submersa fluidizada. Esta cavidade diminui de tamanho com o aumento da profundidade e a fluidização do solo deixa de ocorrer para certa profundidade de saída do jato. Os parâmetros principais que comandam a geometria da zona fluidizada aberta são a velocidade de saída e o diâmetro do jato, em conjunto com o tamanho das partículas do solo. Não foi observada influência da densidade relativa de compactação da areia na geometria fluidizada final. As dimensões geométricas são função do número densimétrico de Froude, cujo emprego permite a determinação de equações empíricas que descrevem o comportamento da geometria fluidizada aberta. O conjunto de ensaios de laboratório possibilitou determinar os parâmetros de controle dos mecanismos de fluidização em areias e a influência destes parâmetros no comportamento do solo fluidizado. / Fluidisation occurs when a granular soil is subjected to an upward fluid flow which creates a drag force sufficient to support the weight of the particles, producing a fluidised zone. In the present work a discussion is made on the mechanisms and concepts controlling the fluidised process produced by upflow washing in granular materials, aiming at the installation of offshore platform anchors. The study was carried out in laboratory rectangular calibration chambers filled with sand at relative densities ranging from 50% to 100%. The upflow washing was produced by a centrifuge pump that sucks water from a reservoir and conducts the water through a hydraulic system to the extremity of a vertical metalic tube, producing the water jet flow. Tubes with different diameters and fluid velocities have been used. The mechanism initiates with the formation of an open fluidised zone having a characteristic shape and distinct boundaries. The fluid penetrates up to a given depth and is deflected towards the surface. Once a stabilized zone is produced, the jet is lowered to another depth and the process is repeated. The shape of the fluidised zone changes with increasing jet depth from an open and stable approximately ellipsoidal form to an unstable spouted profile, and then to a submerged fluidised cavity. The shape of the cavity reduces with increasing depth. Parameters controlling the geometry of an open fluidised zone are fluid velocity and inside diameter of jet, together with diameter soil particles. There has been no influence of relative density in the geometry of the fluidised zone. In fact, this geometry is expressed by densimetric Froude number. The present work was usefull in demonstrating the parameters controlling fluidisation by upflow washing.

La technologie lithium-ion est largement utilisée pour le stockage de l’énergie électrique. Le graphite, fréquemment utilisé comme matériau d’anode, peut être avantageusement remplacé par des nanomatériaux hybrides, alliant la forte densité d’énergie du silicium aux nanotubes de carbone qui possèdent des propriétés électriques et mécaniques remarquables. Le procédé de Dépôt Chimique à partir d’une phase Vapeur (CVD) en lit fluidisé est particulièrement performant pour revêtir de façon uniforme des poudres, y compris des micro- et nano-poudres, par des matériaux divers. Des expériences de dépôt de silicium par CVD en lit fluidisé à partir de silane SiH4 ont été menées sur des nanotubes de carbone multiparois enchevêtrés en pelotes de 450 µm de diamètre médian (ARKEMA Graphistrength C100), couvrant la gamme de 10 à 70 % en masse de silicium déposé. Le silicium est déposé uniformément du bord jusqu’au cœur des pelotes, sous forme de nanoparticules réparties régulièrement sur les nanotubes, et dont la taille augmente avec la durée du dépôt. L’étude du comportement hydrodynamique du lit fluidisé révèle que les nanotubes de carbone fluidisent de façon homogène et avec une forte expansion, pour des vitesse de gaz modérées. Ainsi, les transferts de matière entre la phase solide et la phase gaz durant la fluidisation sont très élevés. Enfin, la capacité de cyclage charge-décharge des électrodes nanotubes de carbone - nanoparticules de silicium a été vérifiée en demi-pile au lithium. / Lithium-ion technology is widely used for electrical energy storage. Graphite, frequently used as anode material, could be usefully replaced by hybrid nanomaterials adding the great energy density of silicon to carbon nanotubes, who have remarkable electrical and mechanical properties. The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) in fluidized bed process is specially performant in uniformly coating powders, including micro and nano powders, with various materials. Fluidized bed CVD of silicon experiments, from silane SiH4, have been conducted on multiwalled carbon nanotubes, entangled in pellets, 450 µm in median diameter (ARKEMA Graphistrength C100), covering a range from 10 to 70 % in total mass of deposited silicon. Silicon is uniformly deposited from shell to core of the pellets, forming nanoparticules regularly deposited on nanotubes and size-dependant to the CVD run duration. The study of hydrodynamic behavior of fluidized bed shows that carbon nanotubes fluidize homogeneously and with a wide expansion, for moderated gas velocity. Thus, mass transport between solid and gas phase during the fluidization are very high. Finally, the charge-discharge cycling capacity of carbon nanotubes - silicon nanoparticles electrodes has been checked in lithium half-cell.

A fluidização é definida como a suspensão de partículas de um solo granular devido à ação de um fluxo ascendente, que cria uma força de arrasto suficiente para suportar o peso próprio das partículas, produzindo uma zona fluidizada. Neste trabalho são discutidos os mecanismos e os conceitos envolvidos na fluidização de solos arenosos com a utilização de jatos de água, que futuramente podem ser associados a novas tecnologias de instalação de ancoragens de plataformas de petróleo offshore. O estudo foi baseado em ensaios realizados em câmaras de calibração retangulares, com paredes em acrílico, preenchidas com areias de granulometria distintas, compactadas com densidade relativa de 50% e 100%. O sistema de jateamento consiste basicamente em uma bomba centrífuga que succiona a água armazenada em um reservatório e a conduz, através de um circuito hidráulico, à extremidade de tubos metálicos verticais, responsáveis pelo jateamento de água. Foram utilizados tubos com diferentes diâmetros e diversas velocidades de saída do jato. Iniciado o jateamento, tem-se a formação de um leito fluidizado, com formato côncavo e interface bem definida com a zona não fluidizada. O jato de água penetra certa profundidade no interior do leito fluidizado até ser defletido, no sentido ascendente, carregando partículas de areia que são depositadas ao redor da zona fluidizada. Após a formação de uma geometria fluidizada máxima, os tubos são reposicionados em uma nova profundidade. A fluidização ao longo da profundidade apresenta comportamento definido, com uma geometria inicialmente estável, que alcança uma condição de instabilidade em determinada profundidade, até sofrer sucessivos fechamentos, formando uma cavidade submersa fluidizada. Esta cavidade diminui de tamanho com o aumento da profundidade e a fluidização do solo deixa de ocorrer para certa profundidade de saída do jato. Os parâmetros principais que comandam a geometria da zona fluidizada aberta são a velocidade de saída e o diâmetro do jato, em conjunto com o tamanho das partículas do solo. Não foi observada influência da densidade relativa de compactação da areia na geometria fluidizada final. As dimensões geométricas são função do número densimétrico de Froude, cujo emprego permite a determinação de equações empíricas que descrevem o comportamento da geometria fluidizada aberta. O conjunto de ensaios de laboratório possibilitou determinar os parâmetros de controle dos mecanismos de fluidização em areias e a influência destes parâmetros no comportamento do solo fluidizado. / Fluidisation occurs when a granular soil is subjected to an upward fluid flow which creates a drag force sufficient to support the weight of the particles, producing a fluidised zone. In the present work a discussion is made on the mechanisms and concepts controlling the fluidised process produced by upflow washing in granular materials, aiming at the installation of offshore platform anchors. The study was carried out in laboratory rectangular calibration chambers filled with sand at relative densities ranging from 50% to 100%. The upflow washing was produced by a centrifuge pump that sucks water from a reservoir and conducts the water through a hydraulic system to the extremity of a vertical metalic tube, producing the water jet flow. Tubes with different diameters and fluid velocities have been used. The mechanism initiates with the formation of an open fluidised zone having a characteristic shape and distinct boundaries. The fluid penetrates up to a given depth and is deflected towards the surface. Once a stabilized zone is produced, the jet is lowered to another depth and the process is repeated. The shape of the fluidised zone changes with increasing jet depth from an open and stable approximately ellipsoidal form to an unstable spouted profile, and then to a submerged fluidised cavity. The shape of the cavity reduces with increasing depth. Parameters controlling the geometry of an open fluidised zone are fluid velocity and inside diameter of jet, together with diameter soil particles. There has been no influence of relative density in the geometry of the fluidised zone. In fact, this geometry is expressed by densimetric Froude number. The present work was usefull in demonstrating the parameters controlling fluidisation by upflow washing.

Orientadores: Telma Teixeira Franco, Reginaldo Guirardello / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-28T22:33:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_EveraldoSilvinodos_D.pdf: 4348712 bytes, checksum: f3506ac5746394a5083752c78e0b99b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2001 / Resumo: O presente trabalho refere-se ao uso da técnica de adsorção em lejto expandido para recuperar e purificar enzimas. Aspectos fundamentais da adsorção em leito expandido são abordados, utilizando lisozima e soro albumina bovina como proteínas modelo, e as enzimas, gliceraldeído-3-fosfato desidrogenase de Saccharomyces cerevisae, xilanase (extrato comercial) e quitosanase produzida por Bacil/us cereus. A avaliação da influência do uso de dois distribuidores, poroso e do tipo prato perfurado, mostrou que o distribuidor do tipo prato perfurado favoreceu mais à adsorção em leito expandido e que os adsorventes Streamline@ SP e Streamline@ DEAE possuem uma ampla distribuição de tamanho de partículas favorecendo ao fenômeno de segregação (Capítulo 2 - Artigo publicado no IEX 2000 (Cambridge/UK)). O uso de um processo integrado para recuperar e purificar a enzima intracelular Gliceraldeído 3-fosfato desidrogenase mostrou-se bem sucedido. O desempenho hidrodinâmico e cromatográfico foi estudado usando um adsorvente de estrutura pelicular (Pellicular) e dois adsorventes porosos comerciais (Stream1ine e Macrosorb) . Os resultados mostraram que o adsorvente Pellicular apresentou as melhores propriedades hidrodinâmicas e cromatográficas. (Capítulo 3 - Artigo em parceria e que será submetido à periódico internacional). O estudo da influência do uso de uma altura do leito empacotado, de 0,050 m e de 0,075 m na ALE operando-se em 10% da curva de ruptura, mostrou que uma altura de 0,075 m foi mais eficiente. Para o sistema lisozima - Streamline@ DEAE o rendimento aumentou com o aumento da velocidade linear enquanto que para o sistema BSA - Streamline@ SP esse fato não foi observado. Neste caso, para o sistema BSA - Streamline@ SP, a transferência de massa parece ser limitada pela menor densidade de carga acarretando assim em menores valores de eficiência em 10% de ruptura. (Capítulo 4 - Artigo aceito para publicação no periódico Biosepara_ion). O estudo da influência do conteúdo de células na adsorção em leito expandido mostrou que quando foi utilizado o extrato com o conteúdo de 5% de células (peso úmido), em leito expandido, o desempenho da purificação foi comprometido. (Capítulo 5 - Artigo aceito para publicação no periódico Joumal of Chromatography A). A adsorção de quitosanase de um caldo de fermentação de Baci/lus cereus em leito empacotado permitiu à obtenção de um pico com um fator de purificação de 7,6 e uma recuperação de 67,4% que eluiu com 0,51 M de NaCL Valores muito próximos a estes foram obtidos com o uso da adsorção em leito expandido com ambos os caldos, bruto e clarificado. Eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (SDS­P AGE) realizada para o tubo que exibiu a maior atividade, quando o leito foi no modo expandido e com células, mostrou a presença de duas bandas. Este fato sugere três possibilidades, a existência de duas quitosanases, a presença de um proteína contaminante ou a existência de uma quitosanase com duas sub-unidades (dímera). Entretanto, grande parte dos contaminantes foram separados da quitosanase em uma única etapa. (Capítulo 6 - Artigo que será submetido à um periódico internacional) / Abstract: This work deals with the application of Expanded Bed Adsorption (EBA) to recovery and purify enzymes. Model proteins, lisozyme and bovine serum albumin (BSA), as well as some enzymes, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) from baker's yeast, xylanase (from a commercial extract) and chitosanase from Bacil/us cereus were used to study the EBA background and application. The influence of two distributor (porous and perfurated plate) showed that the perfurated plate distributor was more favorable for the EBA. The Strearnline@ SP and the Strearnline@ DEAE adsorbents have a wide size distribution favourable for the segregation phenomena. (Chapter 2 - artic1e published in IEX 2000 (Carnbridge/UK». An integrated process was successful to recover and to purify an intracellular enzyme, Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G3PDH). Performance of the hydrodynamic and chromatographic properties using a pellicular adsorbent (Pellicular) and two porous commercial adsorbents (Stream1ine and Macrosorb) showed that the former presented the best hydrodynarnic and chromatographic properties. (Chapter 3 - paper that wiil be submmited to an international journal). The influence of two settled bed height, 0.050 m and 0.075m, respectively, in the EBA operating at 10% of the breaktrough curve, showed that the former was more efficient. For the lisozyme - Strearnline@ DEAE system yield increased with the increase of the velocity while for the BSA - Strearnline@ SP system this behaviour was not observed. In this case, mass transfer seems to be limited problably due to its lower charge density. (Chapter 4 - paper accepted for publication in the Bioseparation Journal). The influence of cell contents in the EBA using a 5% (wet weight) cell content showed that the purification perfonnance was hampered. (Chapter 5 ­paper accepted for publication in the Journal ofChromatography A). The chitosanase adsorption of fermentation broth from Bacillus cereus, in packed mode, showed a chitosanase peak that eluted with 0.51 M NaCl, in this case a 7.6-fold purification factor with 67.4% of activity recovery were obtained. Similar values were obtained for both c1arified and unc1arified fermentation broth using the bed in the expanded mode. Experiment in expanded mode showed that two bands were present in the peak showing the highest activity, this suggests three possibilities, the existence of two chitosanases, the existence of a contaminant protein or the existence of a chitosanase with two sub-units. However, it was possible to separate the chitosanase from the-main contaminants in just one step. (Chapter 6 - paper that will be submitted to an international journal) / Doutorado / Desenvolvimento de Processos Químicos / Doutor em Engenharia Química

The entrainment rate of Ferrosilicone (FeSi) particles was measured in a 140 mm perspex column with air as the fluidising medium. Two different types of FeSi were used, namely atomised FeSi, which is mostly spherical in shape with smooth surfaces, and milled FeSi, which is irregular with rough surfaces. Both the FeSi mixtures had the same solid density and the similar average particle diameters ranging from 38 µm to 50 µm. The size and density of these particles put them on the border between Geldart A and Geldart B powders, similar to the high temperature Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. The atomised FeSi had a slightly higher concentration in fines (8.6% vs 1.8%), but except for the difference in particle shape, the two mixtures had otherwise very similar physical properties. A substantial difference in entrainment rate was measured between the atomised and milled FeSi, where the atomised had an entrainment rate of about six times higher than the milled FeSi throughout the range of superficial velocities tested. It was shown that the higher entrainment rate cannot be attributed only to the higher fines concentration, but that the difference in particle shape had a significant effect on the entrainment rate. Several two dimensional shape characterisation techniques were used in attempt to quantify the difference between the atomised and the milled FeSi. Of these the particle circularity managed to differentiate the best between the two particle mixtures. The circularities of the atomised and the milled FeSi were found to be 0.782 and 0.711 respectively. The measured circularity was used instead of a sphericity to adjust for the effect of particle shape on the terminal velocity of the particles. The adjusted terminal velocity was then used in the elutriation rate constant correlations to see which of the popular correlations in literature predicts the entrainment rate of the FeSi the best. All of the correlations gave a poor performance in predicting the measured entrainment rates. The two correlations that performed the best were that of Choi et al. (1999) (AARE = 72.6%) and Geldart et al. (1979) (AARE = 79%). It was concluded that single particle drag and single particle terminal velocities are not adequate to incorporate the effect of particle shape on entrainment rate. The method i by which shape affects entrainment rate therefore deserves further investigation. Further studies should also be done to develop a three dimensional shape descriptor that predicts bulk behaviour better. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

Les écoulements pyroclastiques sont des mélanges à haute température de gaz et de particules volcaniques qui peuvent se propager sur de très grandes distances. Cette forte « mobilité » est souvent attribuée à leur capacité à se fluidiser, c’est-à-dire à générer et conserver une forte pression interstitielle de gaz qui réduit les forces de friction interne. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de comprendre comment les irrégularités des terrains sur lesquelles se propagent les écoulements pyroclastiques peuvent favoriser leur fluidisation. Une première série d’expériences de laboratoire a consisté à générer des écoulements de particules fines (diamètre de 45-90 μm) sur des substrats de différentes rugosités. Les résultats montrent que la distance de parcours des écoulements augmente avec la rugosité, allant jusqu’à doubler par rapport à la distance de parcours sur fond lisse. Des analyses de vidéos haute vitesse et des mesures de pression interstitielle d’air à la base des écoulements montrent que la tête (partie antérieure) des écoulements qui se propagent sur un substrat rugueux s’auto-fluidisent en conséquence de la sédimentation des particules dans les interstices du substrat, chassant l’air qui remonte et percole dans l’écoulement. Ce mécanisme d’auto-fluidisation est efficace pour toutes les inclinaisons étudiées (0-30°), suggérant qu’il est susceptible de se produire tout au long de la mise en place d’un écoulement pyroclastique. Une seconde étude a consisté à faire chuter des lits de particules dans une colonne statique. Les résultats montrent que même pour une hauteur de relâchement relativement faible (20 cm), le mélange peut entièrement s’auto-fluidiser durant sa chute. Quand les particules sont suffisamment fines (<100 μm) la pression interstitielle dans le dépôt diffuse pendant plusieurs secondes, la durée de cette diffusion augmentant avec l’augmentation de l’épaisseur du lit et la diminution de taille des particules. Les temps de diffusions les plus longs sont observés avec un matériau provenant d’un dépôt d’écoulement pyroclastique (~30 s pour des lits de 28.5 cm d’épaisseur). Ces résultats suggèrent que les écoulements pyroclastiques qui se propagent sur des terrains accidentés peuvent s’auto-fluidiser et conserver une faible friction au cours de leur mise en place. / Pyroclastic flows are hot mixtures of gas and particles that can propagate over large distances. This high “mobility” is often attributed to their ability to be fluidized, that is, to generate and retain high gas pore pressure that reduces internal friction forces. The main objective of this thesis is to understand how irregularities of substrates on which pyroclastic flows propagate can enhance their fluidization. A first set of laboratory experiments consisted of the generation of fine-grained flows (diameter of 45-90 μm) on substrate of various roughness. Results show that the flow runout distance increases with the substrate roughness, and is up to twice the runout on a smooth substrate. High speed video analyses and air pore pressure measurements at the flow base show that the flow head propagating over a rough substrate can auto-fluidize because of particles sedimentation into the substrate interstices, which forces the air to escape upward and percolate through the flow. This auto-fluidization mechanism is efficient at all inclinations investigated (0-30°), suggesting that it could occur during the whole emplacement of a pyroclastic flow. A second study consisted of the vertical release of beds of particles in a static column. Results show that the granular mixture can be fully fluidized, even when collapsing from a relatively low height (20 cm). When particles are fine enough (<100 μm), pore pressure in the deposit diffuses for several seconds, the diffusion duration increasing with increasing bed thickness and decreasing particle size. The longest diffusion durations are observed for pyroclastic flow deposit materials (~30 s for 28.5 cm thick beds). These results suggest that pyroclastic flows propagating on irregular terrains can auto-fluidize and preserve low internal friction during their emplacement.

Lors de la production du PVC en poudre, après l’étape de polymérisation en suspension, on obtient une bouillie constituée d’un mélange de grains macroporeux de taille comprise entre 100 et 200 μm et d’eau. L’étape de centrifugation permet la séparation de la phase liquide exprimable et la production d’un milieu poreux humide appelé « gâteau ». La teneur en eau du gâteau ainsi formé est de 30 % de la masse du produit anhydre. Le séchage du gâteau de filtration se fait dans un séchoir Flash (séchoir pneumatique) couplé à un séchoir à lit fluidisé. Cette opération, très gourmande en énergie et donc très impactante en termes d’émission de Gaz à Effet de Serre (GES), représente 30% du coût de fabrication et 50% des émissions de CO2. Ce travail, réalisé dans le cadre d’une collaboration avec le groupe INEOS ChlorVinyls, est consacrée à l’étude de l’étape de séchage thermique, et à la réalisation d’outils expérimentaux et théoriques permettant d’optimiser le fonctionnement et de réduire la consommation énergétique de cette étape. Dans ce but, l’étude du séchage du PVC est réalisée à l’échelle d’une particule isolée d’une part, et à l’échelle du procédé industriel d’autre part. La détermination expérimentale de la cinétique de séchage est effectuée en immergeant une quantité de produit humide (gâteau de filtration) dans un lit fluidisé de grosses particules inertes et chaudes (billes de verre), et permet d’étudier l’influence de différents paramètres sur la cinétique d’évaporation. Les résultats ont montré que cette cinétique est limitée par les processus d’évaporation à l’intérieur et à la surface des particules. Du point de vue théorique, un modèle dont le principe repose sur les bilans de matière et de chaleur à l’échelle du grain de PVC, couplés aux bilans sur le séchoir à lit fluidisé, a été élaboré. La comparaison des résultats de ce modèle avec les résultats expérimentaux a permis de vérifier la validité de la loi cinétique ainsi établie. Finalement, cette loi a été intégrée dans un modèle simulant le séchoir pneumatique industriel. Les résultats théoriques sont comparés à des mesures réalisées sur un séchoir pneumatique industriel équipé de capteurs de pression, d’humidité et de température. Les résultats de cette étude ont permis de proposer une nouvelle stratégie de régulation du séchoir pneumatique ainsi que des modifications du procédé, ne nécessitant pas d’investissement. L’ensemble de ces propositions a permis de réduire d’environ 30% la consommation énergétique pour un rendement de séchage équivalent. / In a PVC powder production line, the step of suspension polymerization produces a mixture of macroporous particles and water, called “slurry”. The mean particle size varies between 100 and 200 µm. The centrifugation step eliminates most of water content and produces a wet porous medium called “cake”. The water content of the cake is about 30% of the dry product mass. Drying operations take place in a Flash dryer (pneumatic dryer) coupled with a fluidized bed dryer. These operations, which consume a lot of energy and produce greenhouse gas, represent 30% of the production cost and 50% of the CO2 emissions. This work, realized in collaboration with INEOS ChlorVinyls group, is devoted to the study of the thermal drying step and to the realization of experimental and theoretical tools in order to optimize and reduce the energy consumption of this step. The study of the drying step is realized, on the one hand, at the particle scale and, on the other hand, at the industrial dryer scale. The particle scale drying kinetic is obtained by immersing a sample of wet product in a fluidized bed of warm inert particles (glass beads), and enables to study the influence of different parameters on the evaporation kinetic. The results have shown a limitation of this kinetic by the evaporation process both inside the particles and on their outer surface. In a theoretical way, a model based on mass and heat balances at particle scale coupled with fluidized bed balances, has been developed. The kinetic law developed is validated by the comparison between the results of this model and the experimental results. Finally, this law is integrated in a model simulating the industrial pneumatic dryer. The theoretical results are compared to the measurements realized on an industrial pneumatic dryer, equipped with several pressure, humidity and temperature sensors. The results of this study lead to the proposition of a new regulation strategy for the pneumatic dryer and some zero-investment modifications of the process. All these propositions enable an energy consumption reduction of 30%.