Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Jeffrey H Siegell

Costas A Coulaloglou

Robert P Cahn

Thomas Mikus

Solids comprising a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed are transported in a direction transverse to the flow of the fluidizing fluid exiting the bed by contacting at least a portion of said solids with fluidizing fluid which enters the bed with a velocity component in the direction of solids flow; i.e. the transverse flow direction. In a preferred embodiment, the fluidizing fluid entering the bed is passed through a distribution means containing propulsion passages slanted in the desired direction of solids flow which serve to orient the fluidizing fluid in the transverse flow direction. Use of this invention eliminates the need for the costly and inconvenient pneumatic, hydraulic and mechanical transport devices employed in the prior art. Solids attrition and elutriation are also reduced.

Fluid induced transverse flow magnetically stabilized fluidized bed

In a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed in which the bed particles continuously move transverse to the flow of the fluidizing fluid, the bed particles have increased fluidity when the bed is operated at or substantially near the locus of transition between the bubbling and stabilized regimes of said bed. More specifically, the particulate bed comprising a transverse flow magnetically stabilized fluidized bed process has greater fluidity when the bed is operated such that the ratio of the difference between the transition velocity and the operating velocity to the difference between the transition velocity and the normal minimum fluidization velocity ranges between -0.1 and +0.5. The increased fluidity facilitates the movement of solids within a vessel as well as the transfer of solids to other vessels. Stabilization of the bed, which prevents and substantially eliminates fluid bypassing and solids backmixing, may be effected externally by an applied magnetic field or internally by permanently magnetized magnetic particles within the bed. The present invention has application to a wide variety of processes (particularly separation and filtration-processes) wherein small size fluidizable, absorbent particles can be used without encountering the high pressure drops normally associated with non-stabilized beds.

Fluidity of a continuous transverse flow magnetically stabilized

A multicomponent feed mixture may be separated into its components continuously by injecting said feed mixture and a carrier fluid into a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed containing adsorbent particles admixed or composited with magnetizable particles. The bed particles continuously move transverse to the flow of the carrier fluid, which serves to fluidize the bed, such that the components of the feed mixture are transported downstream varying distances from the injection point depending upon the adsorption and desorption characteristics of said components. Product streams comprising a portion of the carrier fluid and a portion of the feed mixture containing at least a portion, preferably a major portion, of one of the components can then be recovered from the surface of the bed, the most strongly adsorbed component being transported (and thus recovered) farthest from the injection point.

Continuous chromatographic separations in a magnetically stabilized

The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for monitoring the behavior of a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed. More particularly, the invention relates to monitoring the behavior and bed characteristics of a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed by measuring the magnetic field fluctuations in the bed. The bed may be operated in a batch or continuous solids addition and removal mode.

Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a magnetically

The present invention relates to a process for continuous countercurrent contacting with magnetically stabilized fluidized beds. More particularly, the invention relates to the operation of a magnetically stabilized bed with continuous solid addition and removal. The bed particles which include a magnetizable component are stabilized against gas by-passing and solids back-mixing (except possibly for the flow or movement of the solids near entrance or exit ports or near fluid injection zones) during countercurrent contacting by the use of an applied magnetic field. The process of the invention is particularly suited for carrying out separation processes. The use of the applied magnetic field in such processes enables one to use small size fluidizable, adsorbent particles without encountering high pressure drops. The small adsorbent particles having a magnetic component give faster transfer of the sorbed species from the contacting fluid than with larger adsorbent particles which allows for a closer approach to equilibrium.

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Westfield, NJ, United States of America

Jeffrey H Siegell