Parametric Analysis of Zircon Carbochlorination in Fluidized Bed via Numerical Modeling

فاقد چكيده

The chlorination of zircon is an integral part of the overall process for the production of zirconium. A twophase hydrodynamic type model was used to simulate the fluidized bed zircon carbochlorination reactor. In P-P model, flow of gas in both dense and bubble phases was considered as a plug flow in contrast to P-M model in which the flow in dense phase was assumed mixed. The zircon conversion obtained by model was compared with experimental measurements for model authentication. The results of P-M model indicated a better agreement with experimental data. Using the validated model, the effects of inlet size distribution of zircon, reactor temperature, and inlet gas concentration and velocity on chlorine conversion and converted zircon were investigated. The results demonstrated that higher reactor temperature, smaller zircon size, and higher inlet gas velocity and concentration enhanced chlorination rate.