Network


Latest external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.

Hotspot


Dive into the research topics where Franco Berruti is active.

Publication


Featured researches published by Franco Berruti.


Chemical Engineering Communications | 1988

A KINETIC MODEL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIQUIDS FROM THE FLASH PYROLYSIS OF BIOMASS

A.G. Liden; Franco Berruti; Donald S. Scott

A kinetically based prediction model for the production of organic liquids from the flash pyrolysis of biomass is proposed. Wood or other biomass is assumed to be decomposed according to two parallel reactions yielding liquid tar and ( gas + char) The tar is then assumed to further react by secondary homogeneous reactions to form mainly gas as a product The model provides a very good agreement with the experimental results obtained using a pilot plant fluidized bed pyrolysis reactor The proposed model is shown to be able to predict the organic liquid yield as a function of the operating parameters of the process, within the optimal conditions for maximizing the tar yields, and the reaction rate constants compare reasonably well with those reported in the literature


Powder Technology | 1996

A predictive hydrodynamic model for circulating fluidized bed risers

Todd S. Pugsley; Franco Berruti

Abstract A predictive mathematical model, able to characterize and quantify all facets of the time-averaged gas and solids flow structure and properties within circulating fluidized bed (CFB) risers, is proposed. The model can be used as a tool to assess a-priori the operation of a riser and can be easily coupled to kinetic models for process simulation. The input parameters to the model include the riser operating conditions (that is, solids circulation flux and gas superficial velocity), riser geometry and gas and solids physical properties. The proposed model assumes the CFB riser to be axially composed of two regions: an acceleration zone at the riser base, where solids re-injected from a standpipe are accelerated to a constant upward velocity, and a fully-developed region, where the flow characteristics are invariant with height, extending from the end of the acceleration region to the riser exit. The model postulates the existence of a core—annulus type of flow structure and is based on both fundamental principles and empirical relationships. The model is successfully verified against experimental data from CFB units of various sizes and operating under different regimes of fluidization. The model outputs, consisting of axial pressure drop profiles, axial and radial voidage profiles, radial solids velocity and mass flux profiles, average gas velocity and core radius, are compared to existing data and are assessed critically.


Powder Technology | 1992

Scaling considerations for circulating fluidized bed risers

Gregory S. Patience; Jamal Chaouki; Franco Berruti; R. Wong

Abstract The ratio between actual gas velocity to particle velocity in the hydrodynamically fully developed region of Circulating Fluidized Bed risers (CFB) may be approximated by ϕ=1+5.6/Fr+0.47Fr0.41t=Ug/ϵVp. This ratio, termed the slip factor, is about 2 at operating conditions characteristic of industrial risers several meters in diameter and agrees with observations of J. M. Matsen (in D. L. Keairns (ed.), Fluidization Technology, Vol. 2, Hemisphere, 1976, p. 135). The proposed relationship between the gas and solids velocity is an adequate first approximation to estimate gas and solids residence times, blower capacity and standpipe length.


Chemical Engineering Communications | 1990

SOLIDS CIRCULATION IN SPOUTED AND SPOUT-FLUID BEDS WITH DRAFT-TUBES

James R. Muir; Franco Berruti; Leo A. Behie

A 20 cm semi-cylindrical spout-fluid bed with a draft-tube has been used to investigate the effect of various physical parameters on the solids circulation rate, A new method has been developed by which these data can be easily and accurately collected. Equations are presented which can be used to predict the maximum attainable solids circulation rate and the spouting velocity required to achieve this maximum for the unit operating in spouting mode. The circulation trends are shown to be a direct result of the phenomena of entrainment and jetting occurring in the entrainment zone investigated visually with a video camera. Preliminary gas bypassing experiments were also performed which show the ability to almost eliminate spout gas bypassing to the annulus with appropriate auxiliary gas addition.


Chemical Engineering Science | 1996

Ultrapyrolytic cracking of polyethylene — a high yield recycling method

Sean F. Sodero; Franco Berruti; Leo A. Behie

Abstract Intrinsic chemical kinetics for the ultrapyrolysis of waste plastics are needed to assess the feasibility for this technology of processing if it is to be used for tertiary recycling. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of various operating factors for the pyrolysis of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a common polymer found in plastic wastes, and determine viable operating conditions for maximizing the production of high value products such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene. Experiments were performed using both a batch micro-reactor and pilot plant sized reactor. The key operating factors considered were temperature and reaction time, with the reaction systems operated under isothermal conditions. In the micro-reactor experiments, LDPE was pyrolyzed at temperatures of 800°C and 900°C, with total reaction times ranging from 350 to 2500 milliseconds. Experiments completed with the pilot plant also produced excellent results with light olefin production reaching 75 wt% at 800°C.


Chemical Engineering Science | 1990

Residence time distribution of solids in a circulating fluidized bed: Experimental and modelling studies

P.A. Ambler; B.J. Milne; Franco Berruti; Donald S. Scott

Abstract A mathematical model, based on the core-annulus flow structure, is proposed to characterize the two-phase flow and the residence time distribution of solids within the riser of circulating fluidized beds. The model is tested against experimental data obtained in a laboratory unit utilizing a tracer technique. While the accuracy of the experimental technique is shown not to be sufficient to allow conclusive results, the model is capable of a good prediction of the observed trends of the characteristic bimodal residence time distributions with an excellent match of the times of arrival of the two peaks. Simulation runs have been performed to study the effects of key operating variables on the residence time distribution.


Fuel | 1989

A gas-solid reaction model for flash wood pyrolysis

Mehmet A. Hastaoglu; Franco Berruti

Abstract A theoretical modelling study of wood flash pyrolysis has been carried out using the single pellet technique. The model considers the transient behaviour of a single wood particle undergoing a fast thermal decomposition reaction. Mass transfer, pressure gradients in the pellet, heat transfer via convection, conduction and radiation, and structural changes occurring in the particle are accounted for. The wood particle is assumed to consist of fibres of hollow cylindrical shape. The pyrolysis reaction occurs at an interface within each fibre, which moves with time. The kinetic mechanism for the reaction assumes the wood to decompose according to two parallel reactions yielding tar and and (gas + char). Tar is then assumed to decompose further by secondary homogeneous cracking reactions to yield gas. The results of the modelling work compare favourably with experimental data of conversion and temperature over a wide range of operating temperatures.


Powder Technology | 1996

An innovative non-mechanical solids feeder for high solids mass fluxes in circulating fluidized bed risers

T.S. Puglsey; Bruce J. Milne; Franco Berruti

A non-mechanical solids feeder for circulating fluidized bed risers has been developed to achieve very high and carefully controllable solids mass fluxes in a laboratory scale experimental unit. The design involves the replacement of the traditional standpipe/L-valve configuration with an aerated annular bed of solids and an innovative radial gas distributor surrounding the base of the riser. Solids enter the riser through orifices drilled at the riser base. Solids mass fluxes of up to 700 kg/m2 s for sand have been achieved in a 0.05 m diameter, 5 m tall riser at riser superficial gas velocities between 5.5 and 8.5 m/s. This paper reports results of the experimental investigation of the circulating fluidized bed pressure loop in order to understad better the operation of the solids feeder and to gain insight into proper design and scale-up of the device.


Chemical Engineering Science | 1988

Measuring and modelling residence time distribution of low density solids in a fluidized bed reactor of sand particles

Franco Berruti; A.G. Liden; Donald S. Scott

Abstract An experimental study was carried out to estimate the residence time distribution of low density particles injected into a fluidized bed reactor containing sand particles. Tracer experiments were performed at room temperature, using a pilot plant pyrolysis reactor. A novel technique was used to detect and measure the flow of solid tracer particles having different physical characteristics entering and leaving the fluid bed. The experimental results demonstrated that the degree of particle entrainment was a function of the fluidizing gas velocity, the particle size and the particle density. Solid mixing, segregation and entrainment were also studied as functions of physical and operating parameters. Various models were tested to characterize the non-ideal solids flow patterns within the fluid bed. A circulation model appeared to give a good description of the physical mechanism involved and to provide the best agreement with the experimental results.


Chemical Engineering Science | 1996

The circulating fluidized bed catalytic reactor: Reactor model validation and simulation of the oxidative coupling of methane

T.S. Pugsley; Franco Berruti

Abstract A fully predictive core-annulus hydrodynamic model for the gas and solids flow structure in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) risers is coupled with first-order heterogeneous reaction kinetics to simulate the decomposition of ozone in a CFB catalytic reactor. Excellent agreement between the simulation and published experimental data for ozone decomposition in units of differing scale is obtained through the use of a single adjustable parameter, namely, the core-to-annulus gas mass transfer coefficient. The gas-solids contacting efficiency parameter introduced in other models of this reaction is not required. The simulation is extended to consider the oxidative coupling of methane in a CFB catalytic reactor.

Collaboration


Dive into the Franco Berruti's collaboration.

Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Jamal Chaouki

École Polytechnique de Montréal

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Gregory S. Patience

École Polytechnique de Montréal

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Amit Chakma

University of Waterloo

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar
Researchain Logo
Decentralizing Knowledge