1724 P. Basu, J.

Butler / Applied Energy 86 (2009) 1723–1731

Nomenclature

ASP horizontal cross-section area of the standpipe, m2 UH,rel velocity of gas through horizontal passage relative to
AH vertical cross-section area of the horizontal passage, m2 solids, m/s
C1, C2 empirical constants in Eq. (1) Umf minimum fluidization velocity of solids, m/s
dp mean diameter of bed solids, m UV superficial gas velocity in the standpipe, m/s
Gs solids flux in the standpipe, kg/m2s usg absolute vertical velocity of gas, m/s
g acceleration due to gravity, m/s2 uss downward velocity of solids in the standpipe, m/s
H height of horizontal passage length, m W height of bed surface above the overflow weir, m
q ðq q Þgd3
L length of horizontal passage, m Ar Archimedes number, Ar ¼ g p l2 g p
Ls spread of solids in the angle of repose experiment, m a spread angle
DPs pressure drop measured across Ls in the standpipe, N/m2 b angle made by joining the ceiling and base of horizontal
QH gas flow through the horizontal passage, m3/s passage (Fig. 7)
QT total gas flow into bottom of supply chamber, m3/s e voidage
QSP gas flow through standpipe, m3/s l kinematic viscosity of gas, kg m/s
Du gas–solid slip velocity, m/s Us sphericity of particle
U superficial velocity through bed, m/s qg density of fluidizing gas, kg/m3
UH superficial gas velocity through horizontal passage, m/s qs density of solids, kg/m3

Fig. 2. Laboratory models of loop-seal with a negligible passage length used for
research in typical bench scale units.

Fig. 1. Experimental CFB setup used for studies on loop-seal.
loop-seals in commercial CFB boilers are much different from this
as it can be seen in Fig. 3. The loop-seal in a CFB boiler would have
to have a finite length of this passage owing to the finite thickness
of the wall separating the two chambers (Fig. 3). The refractory
walls and insulation around the standpipe and loop-seal recycle
chamber would typically require a thickness well exceeding 250–
500 mm unless they are specifically designed to have no external
wall between these two chambers. Thus a definite horizontal pas-
sage exists in all CFB boiler that has been overlooked in all studies
till date.
It was not known previous to this study whether the length of
this passage has any influence on the solid flow rate between the
two chambers making it difficult to assess how well the data pro-
duced on loop-seals with negligible thickness (Fig. 2) can be ap-
plied to commercial loop-seals with finite thickness of the
passage. The present research attempts to investigate this unex-
plored area of loop-seal operations and provide a quantitative
assessment of the effect if any.