Sensing in fluidized bed processes — from capturing details to monitoring the operation

Abstract

This article offers an opinion and a perspective on the future development of sensing techniques in fluidization technology. The direction of the field is exemplified by a handful of techniques, pointing at the advancements that revolve around two aspects. First, increasing the basic understanding of multiphysics at meso- and microscales, thereby enabling the investigation, development, and scaling up of processes of increased complexity; characteristics that demand high temporal and spatial resolutions and sensitivity, phase differentiation, nonintrusiveness, and the simultaneous acquisition of multiple variables. And second, enhancing operability in response to industry demands for safer, more flexible, and resilient operation as processes are expected to deal with variable boundary conditions (feedstock, load, energy input/output). Beyond the development of instruments, integrated data analysis tools based on artificial intelligence and machine learning are becoming constitutive parts of the ongoing capability building by optimizing data processing, enhancing accuracy, and improving efficiency.