FLUIDIZED BED GAS DISTRIBUTION NOZZLE AND FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluidized bed gas distribution nozzle with the following features in its functional position: a gas inlet pipe (10), having: an inner surface (10i), an outer surface (10o), a lower end section (10l) adapted to receive gas from an associated gas source, an upper end section (10u), a plurality of openings (12) formed in the upper end section (10u), each opening (12) extending form the inner surface (10i) of the gas inlet pipe (10) to the outer surface (10o) of the gas inlet pipe (10), a gas distribution cap (20) connected or connectable to the gas inlet pipe (10), having: an upper top (20u), a lower bottom (20l) arranged at a vertical distance below said upper top (20u) and surrounding the gas inlet pipe (10), a peripheral wall (20w) having an inner surface (20i) and an outer surface (20o) and extending between said upper top (20u) and said lower bottom (20l), outlets (22) within the peripheral wall (20w) extending from the inner surface (20i) of the peripheral wall (20w) to the outer surface (20o) of the peripheral wall (20w).

Claims

1. A fluidized bed gas distribution nozzle with the following features in its functional position: a gas inlet pipe (10), having an inner surface (10i), an outer surface (10o), a lower end section (10l) adapted to receive gas from an associated gas source, an upper end section (10u), a plurality of openings (12) formed in the gas inlet pipe (10), each opening (12) extending form the inner surface (10i) of the gas inlet pipe (10) to the outer surface (10o) of the gas inlet pipe (10), a gas distribution cap (20) connected or connectable to the gas inlet pipe (10), having an upper top (20u), a lower bottom (20l) arranged at a vertical distance below said upper top (20u) and surrounding the gas inlet pipe (10), a peripheral wall (20w) having an inner surface (20i) and an outer surface (20o) and extending between said upper top (20u) and said lower bottom (20l), outlets (22) within the peripheral wall (20w) extending from the inner surface (20i) of the peripheral wall (20w) to the outer surface (20o) of the peripheral wall (20w), characterized in that the gas distribution cap (20) can be connected at least in a first position and in a second position to the gas inlet pipe (10), wherein in the second position the gas distribution cap (20) at least partly closes at least some of the openings (12).

2. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the second position and/or the first positions is a predetermined connecting position.

3. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the gas inlet pipe (10) and the gas distribution cap (20) are embodied to provide at least a second predetermined connecting position, preferably a first predetermined connecting position and a second predetermined connecting position.

4. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 1, wherein in the first position the gas distribution cap (20) is arranged offset to the second position in the longitudinal direction.

5. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 1, recesses (13) and corresponding protrusions (14) being formed at the upper end section (10u) of the gas inlet pipe (10) and on an inner side of the upper top of the gas distribution cap (20), wherein the recesses (13) are arranged within the corresponding protrusions (14) in one of the positions and not in the other position.

6. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 1, the gas inlet pipe (10) having at least a first pipe group of two pipe positioning holes (15.1a, 15.1b) and the gas distribution cap (20) having at least a first cap group of two cap positioning holes (16.1a, 16.1b), the two cap positioning holes (16.1a, 16.1b) corresponding to the pipe positioning holes (15.1a, 15.1b), wherein at least one pin (18) extends through the pipe positioning holes (15.1a, 15.1b) and the cap positioning holes (16.1a, 16.1b) to connect the gas distribution cap (20) to the gas inlet pipe (10).

7. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the gas inlet pipe (10) comprises a second pipe group of at least two pipe positioning holes (15.2a, 15.2b), the pipe positioning holes (15.2a, 15.2b) of the second pipe group being arranged offset in the longitudinal and/or circumferential direction relative to the pipe positioning holes (15.1a, 15.1b) of the first pipe group.

8. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the gas distribution cap (20) comprises a second cap group of at least two cap positioning holes, the cap positioning holes of the second cap group being arranged offset in the longitudinal and/or circumferential direction relative to the cap positioning holes (16.1a, 16.1b) of the first cap group.

9. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 1, the openings (12) of the gas inlet pipe (10) being arranged at least in a first group of openings (12) and a second group of openings (12), the first group of openings (12) and the second group of openings (12) being arranged offset to each other in a longitudinal direction of the gas inlet pipe (10), wherein in the second position the first group of openings is at least partly closed by the gas distribution cap (20).

10. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 9, each group of opening (12) being arranged in a row extending in the circumferential direction of the gas inlet pipe (10).

11. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 1, the gas distribution cap (20) having a collar (17) extending into or surrounding the upper end section (10u) of the gas inlet pipe (10) at least in the second position, whereby the collar (17) at least partly closes at least some of the openings (12).

12. The gas distribution nozzle according to claim 1, the outlets (22) of the gas distribution cap (20) and the openings (12) of the gas inlet pipe (10) being arranged offset to each other in in the longitudinal direction of the gas inlet pipe (10).

13. A fluidized bed reactor including a plurality of fluidized bed gas distribution nozzles according to claim 1.

14. The fluidized bed reactor according to claim 13, wherein the fluidized bed gas distribution nozzles of a first group have their gas distribution caps (20) connected in the first position to their gas inlet pipe (10) and the fluidized bed gas distribution nozzles of a second group have their gas distribution caps (20) connected in the second position to their gas inlet pipe (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The technical background and the invention will now be described with regard to the drawings, which show embodiments of the invention in a schematic way in cross sectional view

[0041] FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of a fluidized bed gas distribution nozzle in a second position.

[0042] FIG. 2 is the nozzle of FIG. 1 in a first position.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a gas inlet pipe of a second embodiment of a fluidized bed gas distribution nozzle.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a gas distribution cap of the second embodiment of the nozzle.

[0045] FIG. 5 is the second embodiment in a second position.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a third embodiment of a fluidized bed gas distribution nozzle in a first position.

[0047] FIG. 7 is the third embodiment of a fluidized bed gas distribution nozzle in a second position.

[0048] FIG. 8 is the third embodiment of a fluidized bed gas distribution nozzle in a third position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0049] The fluidized bed gas distribution nozzles depicted in FIGS. 1 to 8 comprise a gas inlet pipe 10 and a gas distribution cap 20.

[0050] The gas inlet pipe 10 has an inner surface 10i, an outer surface 10o and extends from a lower end section 10l to an upper end section 10u. The lower end section 10l is adapted to receive gas from an associated gas source. A plurality of openings 12 is formed in the upper end section 10u of the gas inlet pipe 10. Each opening 12 extends from the inner surface 10i to the outer surface 10o of the gas inlet pipe 10. The openings 12 are arranged in two rows extending in the circumferential direction of the gas inlet pipe 10. The lower row of openings 12 forms a first group of openings 12 and the upper row of openings 12 forms a second group of openings 12.

[0051] The gas distribution cap has an upper top 20u and a lower bottom 20l, wherein the lower bottom 20l is arranged at a vertical distance below the upper top 20u and surrounds the gas inlet pipe 10, wherein the lower bottom 201 abuts against the outer surface 10o of the gas inlet pipe 10. A peripheral wall 20w of the gas distribution cap 20 extends from the upper top 20u to the lower top 20l. The peripheral wall 20w has an inner surface 20i and an outer surface 20o. Furthermore, outlets 22 are formed in the peripheral wall 20w, wherein the outlets 22 extend from the inner surface 20i to the outer surface 20o. Additionally, the gas distribution cap 20 has a collar 17 formed on the inner side at the upper top 20u.

[0052] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a first pair of pipe positioning holes 15.1a and 15.1b and a second pair of pipe positioning holes 15.2a and 15.2b are formed in the gas inlet pipe 10 below the openings 12, wherein the pipe positioning holes 15.2a and 15.2b are arranged above the pipe positioning holes 15.1a and 15.1b. The gas distribution cap 20 has a corresponding pair of cap positioning holes 16.1a and 16.1b.

[0053] In the first position depicted in FIG. 2 a pin 18 extends through the cap positioning holes 16.1a and 16.1b and through the pipe positioning holes 15.2a and 15.2b, thereby connecting and securing the gas distribution cap 20 to the gas inlet pipe 10. In the first position all openings 12 in gas inlet pipe 10 are uncovered, so that gas flowing from the lower end section 10l into gas inlet pipe 10 flows through openings 12 into an intermediate space between the gas inlet pipe 10 and the gas distribution cap 20 and from there through outlets 22 into the surrounding.

[0054] In order to bring the gas distribution cap 20 in a different position the pin 18 is removed and the gas distribution cap 20 is displaced axially downwards into the position shown in FIG. 1. In this position the pin 18 is entered through cap positioning holes 16.1a and 16.1b as well as through pipe positioning holes 15.1a and 15.1b. In this position the upper row of openings 10 in the gas inlet pipe 10 is closed by the collar 17, which is inserted into the pipe 10.

[0055] According to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 5 the gas inlet pipe 10 has recesses 13 at is upper end section 10u. Additionally, the gas distribution cap 20 has protrusions 14 next to the collar 17.

[0056] In the second position depicted in FIG. 5 the protrusions 14 are arranged within the recesses 13, whereas the collar 17 covers the upper row of openings 12.

[0057] The gas distribution cap 20 can be lifted upwards from the second position shown in FIG. 5 and turned about 90° so that the protrusions 14 come to rest on the upper end face of the gas inlet pipe 10 between the recesses 13 with its lower surfaces, in which first position the upper row of the openings 12 are not covered.

[0058] Accordingly, in the second position the gas entering the gas inlet pipe 10 at its lower end section 10l can only flow through the lower row of openings 12, so that the amount of gas flowing through the fluidized bed gas distribution nozzle is reduced with respect to the first position, when the same gas pressure is applied.

[0059] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 a first pair of pipe positioning holes 15.1a and 15.1b, a second pair of pipe positioning holes 15.2a and 15.2b and a third pair of pipe positioning holes 15.3a and 15.3b are formed in the gas inlet pipe 10 above the openings 12, wherein the pipe positioning holes 15.1a and 15.1b are arranged above and displaced circumferentially to the pipe positioning holes 15.2a and 15.2b, which in turn are arranged above and displaced circumferentially to the pipe positioning holes 15.3a and 15.3b. The gas distribution cap 20 has a corresponding pair of cap positioning holes 16.1a and 16.1b just below the upper top 20u, which is formed in a flat manner.

[0060] In the first position depicted in FIG. 6 a pin 18 extends through the cap positioning holes 16.1a and 16.1b and through the pipe positioning holes 15.1a and 15.1b, thereby connecting and securing the gas distribution cap 20 to the gas inlet pipe 10. In the first position all openings 12 in gas inlet pipe 10 are uncovered, so that gas flowing from the lower end section 10l into gas inlet pipe 10 flows through openings 12 into an intermediate space between the gas inlet pipe 10 and the gas distribution cap 20 and from there through outlets 22 into the surrounding.

[0061] In order to bring the gas distribution cap 20 in a further position the pin 18 is removed and the gas distribution cap 20 is turned and displaced axially downwards into the second position shown in FIG. 7. In this position the pin 18 is entered through cap positioning holes 16.1a and 16.1b as well as through pipe positioning holes 15.2a and 15.2b. In this second position the upper row of openings 10 in the gas inlet pipe 10 is partly closed by the collar 17 which surrounds the pipe 10.

[0062] In order to bring the gas distribution cap 20 in an even further position the pin 18 is removed and the gas distribution cap 20 is turned and displaced axially downwards into the third position shown in FIG. 8. In this position the pin 18 is entered through cap positioning holes 16.1a and 16.1b as well as through pipe positioning holes 15.3a and 15.3b. In this third position the upper row of openings 10 in the gas inlet pipe 10 is completely closed by the collar 17 which surrounds the pipe 10.

[0063] While in the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 to 8 exactly one pin 18 is depicted, there may be one pin for each pair of a cap positioning hole 16.1a and a pipe positioning hole 15.1a in the respective position. Such a pin has preferably a length, so that it does not protrude over the inner surface 10i of the gas inlet pipe 10 and the outer surface 20o of the gas distribution cap 20, thereby avoiding/minimizing contact with the gas and/or with the particulate matter (on the outside of the gas distribution cap 20).