Premium
Fluidized‐bed pyrolysis of polyolefins wastes: Predictive defluidization model
Author(s) -
Mastellone Maria Laura,
Arena Umberto
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690480708
Subject(s) - pyrolysis , fluidized bed , polypropylene , pyrolytic carbon , polyethylene , materials science , plastic waste , waste management , high density polyethylene , process engineering , composite material , engineering
The risk of defluidization during the low‐temperature pyrolytic processes of polyolefins is one of the major constraints to a wider utilization of fluidized beds for the pyrolysis of plastic wastes. A predictive model can estimate the occurrence of defluidization under different operating conditions, taking into account the role of physical properties of the polymers and hydrodynamic variables of the reactor, together with that of the main operating parameters, like the process temperature and the plastic waste feed rate. The results agree well with the experimental data obtained by feeding recycled polypropylene and polyethylene in a laboratory‐scale bubbling fluidized‐bed pyrolyzer. An operating map allows to distinguish the region of reactor stable operation from that of defluidization.