The Copeland Process
Fluid Bed System &
Pollution Control Worldwide
G. G. COPELAND, President
Copeland Process Corporation
Oak Brook, Illinois
INTRODUCTION
The world is populated by human beings who resemble each other physically
to some degree but in most other things are dissimilar, except for the means by
which they come into this world and the manner in which they go out. The turmoil
of the past 50 years could lead to the conclusion that political dogmas so fashion the
minds of people that they must grow farther apart with the passing of time. However, "pollution concern" is a common denominator around the world and something that all forward looking people have in common. People of all walks of life
are genuinely concerned about what is happening to their air and water resources.
Many of them have been pretty vociferous about the problem, even behind the Iron
Curtain.
Copeland fluid bed process was invented for the sole purpose of solving an
otherwise unsolvable pollution problem in order to keep a small but profitable pulp
and paper mill alive. The result of the invention was the building of two commercial installations for Container Corporation of America in 1962 and 1964, and the
formation of Copeland Process Corporation in 1964 to market the invention to
industry generally.
This paper touches on Copeland's experiences with the solution of pollution
problems in the four corners of the world.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COPELAND FLUID BED PROCESS
The Copeland Process has been described inconsiderable detail in many papers
given in various countries of the world (see References). This information will not be
repeated here other than the following brief recitation of the important characteristics of the application.
Fluid beds function by virtue of the fact that beds of solid particles can be set
in fluid motion by passing a stream of gas, under carefully designed conditions, up
through the solid particles making up the bed (Figure 1). For best operation, bed
particle size should be less than one quarter in. In passing through the bed, the gas
forces a passage between the particles of the bed, setting these particles in heterogeneous motion and causing the mass to take on a fluid character. In this condition,
the fluidized bed resembles a boiling liquid and obeys most of the laws of hydraulics.
Mixing of solid particles in a fluidized bed is rapid and complete, and gas to solid and
solid to solid heat exchange is excellent. A fluidized bed under combustion conditions, using air as a fluidizing gas, presents a large surface area in contact with the air.
Since the gas and solids are in a state of intimate mixing and since optimum conditions for reaction are existent, control of reaction rate is readily possible through the
metered increase or decrease of the fluidizing and combustion air flow.
- 1017-