Errigo, Matteo;
(2025)
Experimental characterization of the agglomeration process in fluidized-bed reactors for plastic pyrolysis.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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PhD_Thesis_M_Errigo.pdf - Accepted Version Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 1 November 2026. Download (83MB) |
Abstract
The issue of plastic waste has been emerging as one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Different technologies have been proposed as potential solutions to tackle the problem. Among these, pyrolysis of polyolefin plastic in fluidized-bed reactors stands out for its potential in producing high-quality products, while leveraging the inherent value of plastic materials. However, the efforts to demonstrate its commercial suitability faced significant operational challenges. Particularly, agglomerate formation and segregation are among the most problematic and can lead to the loss of the fluidized state. The properties of the agglomerates evolve throughout their lifetime in a way that is not fully understood, leading to unpredictable behaviour. The goal of this work is to investigate the agglomeration process occurring in fluidized-bed reactors for the thermochemical conversion of plastics. The causes, mechanisms and consequences of agglomeration were investigated via a combination of different non-invasive and non-intrusive diagnostic techniques. The investigation focussed on three main aspects of this phenomenon: (1) how the agglomerate properties evolve during the agglomeration process; (2) the effect of these evolving properties on the agglomerate segregation tendency and heat transfer with the bed; (3) the impact of agglomerate crumbling on minimum fluidization velocity, bubble properties, and voidage distribution. The findings can significantly contribute to preventing disruptions to reactor operation, or, when this is not possible, mitigating their consequences.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Experimental characterization of the agglomeration process in fluidized-bed reactors for plastic pyrolysis |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| Keywords: | Experimental, Plastic pyrolysis, Fluidized bed reactor, Diagnostic techniques, Agglomeration |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10215413 |
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