Case studies for selective agglomeration detection in fluidized beds: Application of a new screening methodology

We have recently presented a new methodology for screening different signal analysis methods in combination with signal pre-treatment methods with the goal to effectively identify those combinations that are highly selective towards a specific process change (Bartels et al., Ind. Chem. Eng. Res. 48 (2009) 3158–3166). The main outcome of the methodology is visually represented in an overall result matrix with coloured tiles illustrating a measure for the suitability of each combination of analysis method and signal pre-treatment. Suitable methods can be visually identified very quickly. e early detection of agglomeration in fluidized beds we illustrate this methodology by four different cases: two cases from a pilot-scale bubbling bed, one from an industrial scale bubbling bed and one case from a lab-scale circulating bed. With the result matrix for each case several suitable methods are identified. The data are also evaluated to identify methods that are more generally applicable for a range of different cases. The suitability of a positively identified method is subsequently analyzed for its temporal response to both agglomeration and other effects. The influence of the different data pre-treatment methods is also addressed.