Apparatus and method for measuring height of solid bed in high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for measuring the height of a solid bed in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system, and a fluidized bed system having the solid bed height measuring apparatus. The solid bed height measuring apparatus includes a lower pressure probe mounted at an upper side as high as a first height from a gas distributor of a fluidized bed reactor to measure pressure of the mounted location, and a middle pressure probe mounted at an upper side as high as a second height from the lower probe to measure pressure of the mounted location. An upper pressure probe is mounted at the top of the fluidized bed reactor to measure the inside pressure of the fluidized bed reactor. First and second differential pressure gauges are used for measuring differential pressures.

Claims

1. A solid bed height measuring apparatus in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system comprising: a lower pressure probe which is mounted at an upper side as high as a first height from a gas distributor of a fluidized bed reactor to measure pressure of the mounted location; a middle pressure probe which is mounted at an upper side as high as a second height from the lower probe to measure pressure of the mounted location; an upper pressure probe which is mounted at the top of the fluidized bed reactor to measure the inside pressure of the fluidized bed reactor; the lower pressure probe and the middle pressure probe being mounted to exist inside the solid bed under all operation conditions, and the upper pressure probe being mounted at the upper side of the fluidized bed reactor, where the solid bed cannot reach, under all operation conditions; a first differential pressure gauge for measuring a first differential pressure value (P1) which is differential pressure between a first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe and a second pressure value measured by the middle pressure probe; a second differential pressure gauge for measuring a second differential pressure value (P2) which is differential pressure between a first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe and a third pressure value measured by the upper pressure probe; and a height arithmetic part for calculating a height of the solid bed inside the fluidized bed reactor based on the first differential pressure value (P1) and the second differential pressure value (P2), wherein the height arithmetic part calculates: a height arithmetic constant value (a) $a=\frac{g_c}{\left(1-{\mathrm{.Math.}}_{\mathrm{mf}}\right)\left({}_s-{}_g\right)g}$ (wherein mf is a voidage of the solid bed under the minimum fluidization condition, s is density of the solid, g is density of the gas, gc is a gravitational acceleration constant, and g is acceleration of gravity) from the first differential pressure value and the second height (H1) on the basis of the mathematical formula:
H1=aP1; a height (H2) of the solid bed existing at the upper pressure probe from the height arithmetic constant value () and the second differential pressure value (P2) on the basis of the mathematical formula:
H2=aP2; and a height (HS) of the solid bed in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system from the height (H2) of the solid bed existing at the upper pressure probe and the first height (H0) on the basis of the mathematical formula
HS=H0+H2.

2. The solid bed height measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display part for displaying the first pressure value, the second pressure value, the third pressure value, the first differential pressure value, the second differential pressure value and the height of the solid bed in real time.

3. A solid bed height measuring apparatus in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system comprising: a lower pressure probe which is mounted at an upper side as high as a first height from a gas distributor of a fluidized bed reactor to measure pressure of the mounted location; a middle pressure probe which is mounted at an upper side as high as a second height from the lower probe to measure pressure of the mounted location; an upper pressure probe which is mounted at the top of the fluidized bed reactor to measure the inside pressure of the fluidized bed reactor; the lower pressure probe and the middle pressure probe being mounted to exist inside the solid bed under all operation conditions, and the upper pressure probe being mounted at the upper side of the fluidized bed reactor, where the solid bed cannot reach, under all operation conditions; a differential pressure type pressure converter for measuring differential pressure values based on a first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe, a second pressure value measured by the middle pressure probe and a third pressure value measured by the upper pressure probe, the different pressure type converter measuring a first differential pressure value (P1) which is a differential pressure between the first pressure value and the second pressure value, and a second differential pressure value (P2) which is a differential pressure between the first pressure value and the third pressure value; and a height arithmetic part for calculating a height of the solid bed inside the fluidized bed reactor based on the first differential pressure value (P1) and the second differential pressure value (P2); wherein the height arithmetic part calculates: a height arithmetic constant value (a) $a=\frac{g_c}{\left(1-{\mathrm{.Math.}}_{\mathrm{mf}}\right)\left({}_s-{}_g\right)g}$ (wherein mf is a voidage of the solid bed under the minimum fluidization condition, s is density of the solid, g is density of the gas, gc is a gravitational acceleration constant, and g is acceleration of gravity) from the first differential pressure value and the second height (H1) based on the mathematical formula:
H1=aP1; a height (H2) of the solid bed existing at the upper pressure probe from the height arithmetic constant value () and the second differential pressure value (P2) based on the mathematical formula:
H2=aP2; and a height (HS) of the solid bed in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system from the height (H2) of the solid bed existing at the upper pressure probe and the first height (H0) based on the mathematical formula:
HS=H0+H2.

4. The solid bed height measuring apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a display part for displaying the first pressure value, the second pressure value, the third pressure value, the first differential pressure value, the second differential pressure value and the height of the solid bed in real time.

5. A solid bed height measuring method inside a fluidized bed reactor comprising: mounting a lower pressure probe at an upper side as high as a first height from a gas distributor of a fluidized bed reactor, mounting a middle pressure probe at an upper side as high as a second height from the lower probe and mounting an upper pressure probe at the top of the fluidized bed reactor, wherein the lower pressure probe and the middle pressure probe are mounted to exist inside the solid bed under all operation conditions, and the upper pressure probe is mounted at the upper side of the fluidized bed reactor, where the solid bed cannot reach, under all operation conditions; injecting fluidization gas into a gas introducing chamber below the gas distributor; measuring pressure values by the lower pressure probe, the middle pressure probe and the upper pressure probe; measuring a first differential pressure value (P1), which is a differential pressure between a first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe and a second pressure value measured by the middle pressure probe, and a second differential pressure value (P2), which is a differential pressure between the first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe and a third pressure value measured by the upper pressure probe, by a differential pressure type pressure converter; and operating a height arithmetic part for calculating a height of the solid bed inside the fluidized bed reactor based on the first differential pressure value (P1) and the second differential pressure value (P2), by at least calculating height arithmetic constant value () $a=\frac{g_c}{\left(1-{\mathrm{.Math.}}_{\mathrm{mf}}\right)\left({}_s-{}_g\right)g}$ (wherein mf is a voidage of the solid bed under the minimum fluidization condition, s is density of the solid, g is density of the gas, gc is a gravitational acceleration constant, and g is acceleration of gravity) from the first differential pressure value and the second height (H1) based on the mathematical formula:
H1=aP1; a height (H2) of the solid bed existing at the upper pressure probe from the height arithmetic constant value () and the second differential pressure value (P2) based on the mathematical formula:
H2=aP2; and a height (HS) of the solid bed in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system from the height (H2) of the solid bed existing at the upper pressure probe and the first height (H0) based on the mathematical formula:
HS=H0+H2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a configurative diagram of a conventional fluidized bed system for showing a differential pressure measurement method in a fluidized bed;

(3) FIG. 2 is a graph showing a change in pressure drop (differential pressure) of a fluidization region and a solid bed according to the velocity of fluidization gas;

(4) FIG. 3 is a configurative diagram of a conventional fluidized bed system showing a method for measuring differential pressure using two pressure probes;

(5) FIGS. 4 and 5 are configurative diagrams of a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system having a solid bed height measuring apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is a configurative diagram of a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system having a solid bed height measuring apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIGS. 7a to 7c are graphs showing changes in measured values of a first differential pressure measuring part and a second differential pressure measuring part measured in connection with three different particles according to an experimental example of the present invention; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a graph showing a comparison between the real height of the solid bed and the height of the solid bed predicted by the experimental example of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The objects, features, and advantageous of the present invention will be described in detail through the following preferable exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompany drawings. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. On the contrary, exemplary embodiments introduced herein are provided to make disclosed contents thorough and complete and to sufficiently transfer the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

(10) It will be understood that, when an element is referred to as being on another element, the element can be directly on the other element, or intervening elements may be present. Further, in the drawings, the sizes of elements may be exaggerated for effective description of technical contents.

(11) Exemplary embodiments in the specification will be described with reference to cross-sectional views and/or plan views which are ideal exemplary views of the present invention. In addition, the size and thickness of film and areas shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for understanding and ease of description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Thus, the exemplary views may be modified due to manufacturing methods and/or a permissible error. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the shapes shown in the drawings but include variation of the shape depending on a manufacturing process. For example, an etching area illustrated as a right angle may be rounded or have a predetermined curvature. Thus, the areas exemplarily illustrated in the drawings have characteristics, and the shape of the areas shown in the drawings exemplarily illustrates specific shapes, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the various exemplary embodiments of the specification, the terms, first, second, and the like are used to describe various constituent elements, but the constituent elements are not limited to the terms. The terms are used only to distinguish one constituent element from other. The exemplary embodiments described and exemplarily illustrated herein include complementary exemplary embodiments.

(12) Terms used in the specification are provided for description of the exemplary embodiments, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the specification, singulars in sentences include plural unless otherwise noted. It will be understood in the specification that the terms comprises and comprising, when used herein, specify the presence of constituent elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of other constituent elements.

(13) The following constitutions described in the Examples and the Comparative Examples are provided for better understanding of the present invention. However, a person skilled in the art can recognize that the present invention can be used without description of the contents. Parts that are well known and irrelevant to the present invention will be omitted in description of the present invention to prevent confusion in understanding of the present invention.

(14) Hereinafter, the structure and the functions of a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system 100 having a solid bed height measuring apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(15) FIGS. 4 and 5 are configurative diagrams of the high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system having the solid bed height measuring apparatus.

(16) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the solid bed height measuring apparatus of the high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system according to the first preferred embodiment includes a lower pressure probe 41, a middle pressure probe 42, an upper pressure probe 43, a first differential pressure gauge 20, a second differential pressure gauge 30 and so on.

(17) The lower pressure probe 41 is mounted at an upper side as high as a first height from a gas distributor 1 of a fluidized bed reactor 10 to measure pressure of the mounted location. Moreover, the middle pressure probe 42 is mounted at the upper side as high as a second height from the lower pressure probe 41 to measure pressure of the mounted location. On the other hand, the upper pressure probe 43 is mounted at the top of the fluidized bed reactor 10 to measure the inside pressure of the fluidized bed reactor 10.

(18) The lower pressure probe 41 and the middle pressure probe 42 exist inside the solid bed under all operation conditions, and the upper pressure probe 43, under all operation conditions, is mounted at the upper side of the fluidized bed reactor 10 where the solid bed cannot reach.

(19) Furthermore, the first differential pressure gauge 20 is connected with the lower pressure probe 41 and the middle pressure probe 42 to measure a first differential pressure value which is a differential pressure obtained between a first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe 41 and a second pressure value measured by the middle pressure probe 42.

(20) Additionally, the second differential pressure gauge 30 is connected with the lower pressure probe 41 and the upper pressure probe 43 to measure a second differential pressure value which is a differential pressure obtained between the first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe 41 and a third pressure value measured by the upper pressure probe 43.

(21) In addition, a height arithmetic part which will be described later in detail calculates the height of the solid bed inside the fluidized bed reactor 10 based on the first differential pressure value and the second differential pressure value.

(22) A (+) side of the first differential pressure gauge 20 is connected with the lower pressure probe 41 and a () part is connected with the middle pressure probe 42. A (+) side of the second differential pressure gauge 30 is connected with the lower pressure probe 41 and a () part is connected with the upper pressure probe 43. That is, the lower pressure probe is shared between the first differential pressure gauge 20 and the second differential pressure gauge 30.

(23) Hereinafter, a method for calculating and measuring the height of the solid bed according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. The height arithmetic part according to the first preferred embodiment calculates a height arithmetic constant value from the first differential pressure value and the second height, and then, arithmetically operates the height of the solid bed of the fluidized bed reactor 10 based on the height arithmetic constant value, the second differential pressure value and the first height value.

(24) In more detail, the first differential pressure value measured by the first differential pressure gauge 20 is a difference between the first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe 41 which is the (+) side of the first differential pressure gauge 20 and the second pressure value measured by the middle pressure probe 42 which is the (+) side. The pressure measured by the lower pressure probe 41 is the sum of the inside pressure (P1) of the fluidized bed and the pressure (P2) by a height (H2) of the solid bed existing at the upper part of the lower pressure probe 41, and the second pressure value measured by the middle pressure probe 42 is the sum of the inside pressure (P1) of the fluidized bed and the pressure (P3) by a height (H3) of the solid bed existing at the upper part of the middle pressure probe 42.

(25) Therefore, the first differential pressure value measured by the first differential pressure gauge 20 corresponds to a pressure drop (P4) by the solid bed equivalent to a height of H1. It can be arranged as follows:

(26) pressure measured by the lower pressure probe 41 which is the (+) side of the first differential pressure gauge 20=P1+P2; and

(27) pressure measured by the middle pressure probe 42 which is the () side of the first differential pressure gauge 20=P1+P3.

(28) Moreover, the pressure drop (P1) measured by the first differential pressure gauge 20 is as follows:
P1=Pressure measured by the lower pressure probe 41 of the (+) sidePressure measured by the middle pressure probe 42 of the () side
=(P1+P2)(P1+P3)
=P2P3
=P4
=Pressure drop by the solid bed equivalent to the height of H1(=H2H3).

(29) In the meantime, the second differential pressure measured by the second differential pressure gauge 30 is a difference between the first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe 41 of the (+) side and the third pressure value measured by the upper pressure probe 43 of the () side, the first pressure measured by the lower pressure probe 41 of the (+) side is the sum of the inside pressure (P1) of the fluidized bed and the pressure (P2) by the solid bed existing at the upper part of the lower pressure probe 41, and the third pressure value measured by the upper pressure probe 43 of the () side is the inside pressure (P1) of the fluidized bed.

(30) Therefore, the second differential pressure value measured by the second differential pressure gauge 30 corresponds to a pressure drop by the solid matter equivalent to a height of H2. It can be arranged as follows:

(31) pressure measured by the lower pressure probe 41 which is the (+) side of the second differential pressure gauge 30=P1+P2; and

(32) pressure measured by the upper pressure probe 43 which is the () side of the second differential pressure gauge 30=P1.

(33) The pressure drop (P2) measured by the second differential pressure gauge 30 is as follows:
P2=Pressure measured by the lower pressure probe 41 of the (+) sidePressure measured by the upper pressure probe 43 of the () side
=(P1+P2)(P1)=P2
=Pressure drop by the solid bed equivalent to the height of H2.

(34) As described above, in case that the first differential pressure gauge 20 and the second differential pressure gauge 30 which are different from each other are used, even though the entire height (HS) of the solid bed is changed, if the lower pressure probe 41 and the middle pressure probe 42 which are connected with the first differential pressure gauge 20 exist inside the solid bed, the distance (H2) between the lower pressure probe 41 and the middle pressure probe 42 is the previously known constant value and the first differential pressure value measured by the first differential pressure gauge 20 is also constant.

(35) Therefore, the mathematical formula 1 described in Background Art can be expressed as the following mathematical formula 2.

(36) $\begin{array}{cc}H=\frac{g_c}{\left(1\text{-}{\mathrm{.Math.}}_{\mathrm{mf}}\right)\left({}_s\text{-}{}_g\right)g}P& \mathrm{Mathematical}\mathrm{Formula}2\end{array}$

(37) In the mathematical formula 2, considering

(38) $a=\frac{g_c}{\left(1\text{-}{\mathrm{.Math.}}_{\mathrm{mf}}\right)\left({}_s\text{-}{}_g\right)g},$
the mathematical formula 2 can be expressed as the following mathematical formula 3.
H=aPMathematical Formula 3

(39) Therefore, the distance (H1) between the lower pressure probe 41 and the middle pressure probe 42 can be expressed as the following mathematical formula 4 if the first differential pressure value (P1) measured by the first differential pressure gauge 20 is substituted in the mathematical formula 3, and the height arithmetic constant value (a) can be calculated using the first differential pressure value and the distance (H1) between the lower pressure probe 41 and the middle pressure probe 42.
H1=aP1Mathematical Formula 4

(40) Moreover, because the value (a) at the same time is constant regardless of the measured height, if the previously calculated value (a) and the second differential pressure value (P2) measured by the second differential pressure gauge 30 is substituted in the following mathematical formula 5, the height (H2) of the solid bed existing at the upper part of the lower pressure probe 41 can be calculated.
H2=aP2Mathematical Formula 5

(41) Furthermore, the entire height (HS) of the solid bed existing at the upper part of the gas distributor 1 can be obtained through the sum of H0 and H2 as shown in the following mathematical formula 6 because the distance (H0) between the gas distributor 1 and the lower pressure probe 41 has been known.
HS=H0+H2Mathematical Formula 6

(42) Hereinafter, a solid bed height measuring apparatus of a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, FIG. 6 is a configurative diagram of the high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system having the solid bed height measuring apparatus according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(43) In the second preferred embodiment, instead of the first differential pressure gauge 20 and the second differential pressure gauge 30 according to the first preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, one differential pressure type pressure converter 50 may be included. The differential pressure type pressure converter 50 is connected to all of the lower pressure probe 41, the middle pressure probe 42 and the upper pressure probe 43.

(44) Therefore, the differential pressure type pressure converter 50 measure a differential pressure value using the first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe 41, the second pressure value measured by the middle pressure probe 42 and the third pressure value measured by the upper pressure probe 43.

(45) The differential pressure type pressure converter 50 measures the first differential pressure value from a difference between the first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe 41 and the second pressure value measured by the middle pressure probe 42, and as described above, the height arithmetic part calculates a height arithmetic constant value using the first differential pressure value and the previously known height arithmetic constant value between the lower pressure probe 41 and the middle pressure probe 42.

(46) Furthermore, the differential pressure type pressure converter 50 measures a second differential pressure value which is a difference between the first pressure value measured by the lower pressure probe 41 and the third pressure value measured by the upper pressure probe 43, and the height arithmetic part calculates a height of the solid bed existing at the upper part of the lower pressure probe 41 based on the measured second differential pressure value and the height arithmetic constant value, and then, calculate a height of the solid bed by adding up the height value and the previously known distance between the gas distributor 1 and the lower pressure probe 41.

(47) Additionally, each of the solid bed height measuring apparatuses according to the first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention may include a display part for displaying the first pressure value, the second pressure value, the third pressure value, the first differential pressure value, the second differential pressure value and the height of the solid bed in real time.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE

(48) Hereinafter, an experimental example using the measuring apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above will be described.

(49) FIGS. 7a to 7c are graphs showing changes in measured values by the first differential pressure measuring part and the second differential pressure measuring part measured for three different particles according to the experimental example of the present invention.

(50) That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower pressure probe 41, the middle pressure probe 42 and the upper pressure probe 43 were mounted to the fluidized bed reactor 10, the lower pressure probe 41 and the middle pressure probe 42 were connected to the first differential pressure gauge 20, and then, the lower pressure probe 41 and the upper pressure probe 43 were mounted to the second differential pressure gauge 30. FIGS. 7a to 7c illustrate changes in pressure drops measured by the first differential pressure gauge 20 and the second differential pressure gauge 30 according to changes in height of the solid bed.

(51) The experiment was carried out in the acrylic fluidized bed reactor 10 with an inner diameter of 0.1 m and a height of 1.2 m at room temperature and pressure, and the real height of the solid bed was measured using a transparent wall of the fluidized bed. The lower pressure probe 41 of the (+) side was mounted to the first differential pressure gauge 20 at the height of 0.1 m from the gas distributor 1 and the middle pressure probe 42 of the () side was mounted to the first differential pressure gauge 20 at the height of 0.3 m from the gas distributor 1, and the lower pressure probe 41 of the (+) side was mounted to the second differential pressure gauge 30 at the height of 0.1 m from the gas distributor 1 and the upper pressure probe 43 of the () side was mounted to the second differential pressure gauge 30 at the height of 1.15 m, so that the first differential pressure gauge 20 and the second differential pressure gauge 30 measured a differential pressure.

(52) In the experiment, a particle A, a particle B and a particle C of three kinds were used, and the particle sizes and particle densities of the particles are shown in the following Table 1.

(53) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Particle Density Particle Particle Size [m] [kg/m.sup.3] Particle A 10~125 1384 Particle B 106~212 2481 Particle C 106~212 3308

(54) As shown in FIGS. 7a to 7c, the particles of the three kinds showed the tendency to keep the first differential pressure value, which was measured by the first differential pressure gauge 20 immersed in the solid bed, uniform even though the entire height of the solid bed inside the fluidized bed was increased and to increase the second differential pressure value, which corresponds to the entire height of the solid bed measured by the second differential pressure gauge 30, linearly as the height of the solid bed increased.

(55) Therefore, if the previously known height (H1) and the first differential pressure value (P1) measured by the first differential pressure gauge 20 are inputted in the mathematical formula 4 to determine the height arithmetic constant value (a), the height (H2) can be obtained when the height arithmetic constant value (a) and the second differential pressure value (P2) are inputted in the mathematical formula 5.

(56) FIG. 8 is a graph showing a comparison of the height of the solid bed predicted by the experimental example of the present invention. That is, FIG. 8 illustrates comparison between the height of the solid bed calculated through the mathematical formulas 4 and 5 and the real height of the solid bed charged in the fluidized bed.

(57) In this experiment, the real height of the solid bed which was accumulated inside the fluidized bed having the transparent wall surface was directly measured from the wall surface. In the drawing, the X-axis means the real height of the solid accumulated inside the fluidized bed and the Y-axis means the height of the solid bed predicted by the first differential pressure gauge 20 and the second differential pressure gauge 30. As shown in the drawing, for all three particles, the height of the solid bed could be predicted within a range of 10%.

(58) An explanation of the reference numerals used in drawings is provided as follows: 1: Gas distributor, 2: Gas introducing chamber, 3: Gas injection means or gas injector, 4: Temperature sensor, 5: Pressure probe, 6: Differential pressure gauge, 10: Fluidized bed reactor, 20: First differential pressure gauge, 30: Second differential pressure gauge, 41: Lower pressure probe, 42: Middle pressure probe, 43: Upper pressure probe, 50: Differential pressure type pressure converter, 100: High-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system having a solid bed height measuring apparatus.

(59) While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not restricted to the embodiments and all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined together in order to make various changes, modification and equivalences within the technical scope of the present invention.