US4591334A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fluidization aid
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1984-12-20
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Granted: 1986-05-27
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Expires: 2004-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Tendrillar carbonaceous material is used as a fluidization aid for fluidized beds. The tendrillar carbonaceous material can be used to fluidize cohesive solids. Further, it can be used to improve fluidization of particulate solids by reducing entrainment, eliminating bubbling, and/or eliminating channelling. The tendrillar carbonaceous material can be a fibrous, particulate carbonaceous material comprising carbon fibers and a ferrous group metal component dispersed throughout the carbon fibers as nodules. The tendrillar carbonaceous material has a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprises an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F. Brooks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:11
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B32/00; C01B32/05; B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/18; B01J8/1872; B82; B82Y; B82Y30/00; C01F; C01F7/00; C01F7/02; C01F7/021; C01G; C01G49/00; C01G49/02; D; D01; D01F; D01F9/00; D01F9/08; D01F9/12; D01F9/127; D01F9/1278; F; F26; F26B; F26B3/00; F26B3/02; F26B3/06; F26B3/08; F26B3/088; F27; F27B; F27B15/00; B01J2208/00; B01J2208/00008; B01J2208/00654; B01J2208/00681; C01P; C01P2004/00; C01P2004/01; C01P2004/03; C01P2004/60; C01P2004/61; C01P2006/00; C01P2006/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for fluidizing a particulate solid in a mixed fluidized bed, the particulate solid having a mean particle size of from about 0.1 to about 200 microns and a particle density of from 0.1 to 8 g/cm 3 , the method comprising the steps of: (a) combining the particulate solid with tendrillar carbonaceous material in a mass ratio of tendrillar carbonaceous material to particulate solid of from about 1:33 to about 4:1, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprising an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1; and (b) passing a fluidizing gas through the combined particulate solid and tendrillar carbonaceous material at a sufficient velocity to fluidize the particulate solid and the tendrillar carbonaceous material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for fluidizing a particulate solid in a mixed fluidized bed, the particulate solid having a mean particle size of from about 0.1 to about 200 microns and a particle density of from 0.1 to 8 g/cm 3 , the method comprising the steps of: (a) combining the particulate solid with tendrillar carbonaceous material in a mass ratio of tendrillar carbonaceous material to particulate solid of from about 1:33 to about 4:1, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprising an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1; and (b) passing a fluidizing gas through the combined particulate solid and tendrillar carbonaceous material at a sufficient velocity to fluidize the particulate solid and the tendrillar carbonaceous material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 in which the tendrils have a diameter of from about 0.1 to about 0.3 microns and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 50:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which the tendrillar carbonaceous material has a mean particle size of from about 5 to about 50 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 in which the tendrils comprise carbon fibers and a ferrous group metal component dispersed throughout the carbon fibers as nodules that are intimately associated with and at least partially bonded to the carbon fibers, and wherein the tendrillar carbonaceous material comprises from 0.1 to 60% by weight ferrous metal, from 40 to 99.9% by weight carbon, and up to 1.5% by weight hydrogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 in which the particulate solid has a mean particle size of from 40 to 200 microns and a bulk density of from 1.4 to 4 grams per cubic centimeter, and wherein the mass ratio is from 1:30 to 1:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5 in which the particulate solid is a Geldart B material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which the particulate solid is a Geldart A material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of heating the particulate solid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which the mean particle size of the tendrillar carbonaceous material is greater than the mean particle size of the particulate solid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 in which the bulk density of the tendrillar carbonaceous material is greater than the bulk density of the particulate solid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which the tendrillar carbonaceous material has a composition different from the composition of the particulate solid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A composition suitable for fluidization in a mixed fluidized bed comprising: (a) a particulate solid having a mean particle size of from 0.1 to 200 microns and a particle density of from 0.1 to 8 g/cm 3 ; and (b) tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprising an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A composition suitable for fluidization in a mixed fluidized bed comprising: (a) a particulate solid having a mean particle size of from 0.1 to 200 microns and a particle density of from 0.1 to 8 g/cm 3 ; and (b) tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprising an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The composition of claim 12 in which the tendrils have a diameter of from about 0.1 to about 0.3 microns and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 50:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composition of claim 12 in which the tendrillar carbonaceous material has a mean particle size of from about 5 to about 50 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
The composition of claim 12 in which the tendrils comprise carbon fibers and a ferrous group metal component dispersed throughout the carbon fibers as nodules that are intimately associated with and at least partially bonded to the carbon fibers, and wherein the tendrillar carbonaceous material comprises from 0.1 to 60% by weight ferrous metal, from 40 to 99.9% by weight carbon, and up to 1.5% by weight hydrogen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The composition of claim 12 wherein the particulate solid has a mean particle size of from 40 to 200 microns and a bulk density of from 1.4 to 4 grams per cubic centimeter, and wherein the mass ratio is from 1:30 to 1:1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composition of claim 16 in which the particulate solid is a Geldart B material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composition of claim 12 in which the particulate solid is a Geldart A material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composition of claim 12 wherein the particle size of the tendrillar carbonaceous material is greater than the particle size of the particulate solid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composition of claim 12 wherein the bulk density of the tendrillar carbonaceous material is greater than the bulk density of the particulate solid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 12 wherein the tendrillar carbonaceous material has a composition different from the composition of the particulate solid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
122 words
A two layer fluidized bed in a vessel comprising: (a) a fluidizing gas passing upwardly through the vessel; (b) a lower fluidized layer in the vessel comprising a first particulate solid having a mean particle size of greater than 200 microns and a bulk density greater than 0.8 g/cm 3 ; and (c) an upper fluidized layer in the vessel on top of and substantially separate from the lower fluidized layer, the upper fluidized layer comprising tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprising an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
122 words
A two layer fluidized bed in a vessel comprising: (a) a fluidizing gas passing upwardly through the vessel; (b) a lower fluidized layer in the vessel comprising a first particulate solid having a mean particle size of greater than 200 microns and a bulk density greater than 0.8 g/cm 3 ; and (c) an upper fluidized layer in the vessel on top of and substantially separate from the lower fluidized layer, the upper fluidized layer comprising tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprising an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The bed of claim 22 in which the tendrils have a diameter of from about 0.1 to about 0.3 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 50:1.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bed of claim 22 in which the tendrillar carbonaceous material has a mean particle size of from about 5 to about 50 microns.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
The bed of claim 22 in which the tendrils comprise carbon fibers and a ferrous group metal component dispersed throughout the carbon fibers as nodules that are intimately associated with and at least partially bonded to the carbon fibers, and wherein the tendrillar carbonaceous material comprises from 0.1 to 60% by weight ferrous metal, from 40 to 99.9% by weight carbon, and up to about 1.5% by weight hydrogen.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bed of claim 22 in which the first particulate solid is a Geldart B material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The bed of claim 22 in which the fluidizing gas forms bubbles in the lower fluidized layer and the upper fluidized layer contains sufficient tendrillar carbonaceous material to dissipate the bubbles formed in the lower fluidized layer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bed of claim 22 wherein the upper layer comprises a second particulate solid having a mean particle size of less than 200 microns.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bed of claim 28 wherein the second particulate solid has a composition different from the composition of the tendrillar carbonaceous material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bed of claim 22 in which the tendrillar carbonaceous material has a composition different from the composition of the first particulate solid.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bed of claim 30 in which the first particulate solid comprises ferrous metal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bed of claim 31 in which the second particulate solid comprises alumina.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 comprising the step of heating the upper fluidized bed.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for fluidizing a first particulate solid and a second particulate solid, the first particulate solid having a mean particle size greater than 200 microns and a bulk density greater than 0.8 g/cm 3 , and the second particulate solid having a means particle size of less than 200 microns, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing the first particulate solid, the second particulate solid, and tendrillar carbonaceous material in a vessel, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a composition different from the composition of the first particulate solid and the second particulate solid, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprising an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1; and (b) passing a fluidizing gas up through the vessel with sufficient velocity to fluidize the first particulate solid in a lower layer in the vessel and to fluidize the second particulate solid and the tendrillar carbonaceous material in an upper layer in the vessel, the two layers being substantially separate.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for fluidizing a first particulate solid and a second particulate solid, the first particulate solid having a mean particle size greater than 200 microns and a bulk density greater than 0.8 g/cm 3 , and the second particulate solid having a means particle size of less than 200 microns, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing the first particulate solid, the second particulate solid, and tendrillar carbonaceous material in a vessel, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a composition different from the composition of the first particulate solid and the second particulate solid, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.04 to about 0.7 g/cm 3 and comprising an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1; and (b) passing a fluidizing gas up through the vessel with sufficient velocity to fluidize the first particulate solid in a lower layer in the vessel and to fluidize the second particulate solid and the tendrillar carbonaceous material in an upper layer in the vessel, the two layers being substantially separate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 34 comprising the step of heating the upper fluidized layer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the step of placing comprises (i) placing the first particulate solid in the lower layer and (ii) placing the second particulate solid and the tendrillar carbonaceous material in the upper layer before the step of passing the fluidizing gas.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 34 in which the second particulate solid is a Geldart group A material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-26 | 1989-11-25 | 1990-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-26 | 1993-11-25 | 1994-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-26 | 1997-11-25 | 1998-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |