Intelligent Control of Gas-Solid Contacting For the Processing of Particulate Materials in a Fluidized Bed

73 Intelligent Control of Gas-Solid Contacting For the Processing of Particulate Materials in a Fluidized Bed--Motorcarbon LLC, PO Box 856, Miamisburg, OH 45343-0856; (606) 325-3616 Dr. Joseph W. Hager, Principal Investigator Mr. John W. Newman, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER82433 Amount: $74,675 The Department of Energy is interested in supporting research related to achieving better methods of controlling fluidized bed processes, a basic technology important to manufacturing processes, combustion systems, chemical reactors, fossil-fuel processing and waste treatment systems. Fluidization is one of the most effective methods of assuring that the bed of particles, such as carbon powders, maintains uniform temperature and composition; however, the behavior of fluidized beds is chaotic and difficult to control. The approach to this project is to use the evolving mathematics of chaos to first characterize the dynamic behavior of a fluidized bed and to then establish a method of control based on this behavior. Success could result in an improved method of applying powder metallurgy techniques to the manufacture of components that are difficult to cast or machine such as automotive carbon pistons. In Phase I of the project, emerging analytical techniques for handling chaotic time series data will be used to define the dynamics of the various fluidization regimes of a model powder. Dynamic pressure and acoustic data will be collected on an instrumented fluidized column and evaluated using, a software package which has recently become commercially available. Once the dynamic systems have been characterized, the feasibility of achieving bed control will be assessed. Phase II is planned to implement the chaos-based control algorithms in a scaled fluidization process for air stabilization of pitch powders. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: If uniformly and reproducibly stabilized, these pitch powders have been demonstrated to produce near net-shape carbon artifacts, whose strengths are significantly higher than the best commercially available graphites. The control of the fluidized bed stabilization process is thus an enabling technology in the production of artifacts whose ultimate application might be articles such as carbon pistons for internal combustion engines. Application of this control strategy to many other processes is also envisioned.