The University of British Columbia

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Grace's primary research interests are concerned with fluidized bed reactors and related multi-phase systems. Fluidized beds are used for a wide variety of chemical and physical purposes, for example in catalytic, gas-solid and three-phase reactors, drying, coating and thermal treatment.

Working closely with graduate students, fellow faculty members and other research associates, Dr. Grace has investigated a wide range of problems which are fundamental in nature, but which have practical application. Some of the topics studied in the recent past include transient forces on immersed tubes, heat transfer in the freeboard region of bubbling beds and to the walls of circulating fluidized beds, tube erosion, hydrodynamics and mixing in high velocity beds, effects of particle size distribution, reactor modelling, scale-up issues and attrition. Applications studied include fluidized bed combustion and gasification of biomass and coal, a novel process for steam reforming of natural gas to make pure hydrogen, greenhouse gas mitigation, thermal energy storage, drying of wood wafers.

The U.B.C. group has unique facilities for the study of fluidization. For example, the group operates a pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed gasification/combustion unit in which both fundamental and applied data have been obtained. There are also a number of other units of different scales and a wide variety of related equipment for characterizing the particles and obtaining in-bed measurements.

Projects now in progress or likely to be active in the near future include work related to the turbulent regime of fluidization, flow behaviour and heat transfer in fluidized beds, high-density risers, CO₂ and SO₂ capture, hydrogen production, flow regimes, reactor modelling, scale-up and three-phase fluidization. Closely related areas which are being investigated include spouted beds, high temperature filters and classifiers. Many of the projects are motivated by direct industrial interest.  The research is funded by government and by industrial sources.

Dr. Grace is involved, in collaboration with researchers from Civil Engineering and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, with research on the factors leading to polybrominated diethyl ethers and other brominated flame retardants being dispersed in the environment.

RECENT SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Cui H and Grace JR, Fluidization of biomass particles: a review of experimental multiphase flow aspects, Chem. Eng. Sci., 62, 45-55 (2007).
• Constantineau JP, Grace JR, Lim CJ and Richards GG, Generalized bubbling-slugging fluidized bed reactor model, Chem. Eng. Sci., 62, 70-81 (2007).
• Escudié R, Epstein N, Grace JR and Bi HT, Layer inversion and bed contraction in down-flow binary-solid liquid-fluidized beds, Can.J.Chem.Eng., 85, 25-35 (2007).
• Johnsen K and Grace JR, High-temperature attrition of sorbents and a catalyst for sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming in a fluidized environment, Powder Technol., 173, 200-202 (2007).
• Mehrani, P, Bi HT and Grace JR, Electrostatic behaviour of different fines added to a Faraday cup fluidized bed, J. Electrostatics. 65, 1-10 (2007).
• Li LY, Chen M, Grace JR, Tazaki K, Shiraki K, Asada R and Watanabe H, Remediation of acid rock drainage by regenerable natural clinoptilolite, Water, Air & Soil Pollution, 180, 11-27 (2007).
• Mehrani P, Bi HT and Grace JR, Bench-scale tests to determine mechanisms of charge generation due to particle-particle and particle-wall contact in binary systems of fine and coarse particles, Powder Technol., 173, 73-81 (2007).
• Choi JH, Kim SD and Grace JR, Entrainment rate of coarse particles at different temperatures in gas fluidized beds, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 85, 151-157 (2007).
• Mahecha-Botero A, Grace JR, Elnashaie SSEH and Lim CJ, A comprehensive approach to reaction engineering, Intern. J. Chem. Reactor Engng., 5, A17 (2007).
• Nagahashi Y, Grace JR, Epstein N, Asako Y, Yokogawa A, Flow characteristics of fully wetted binary solid mixtures in gas fluidized beds with inclined gas distributors, in Fluidization XII, ed. X.T. Bi, F. Berruti and T. Pugsley, United Engineering Conferences, Brooklyn, pp.337-344, 2007.
• Escudié R, Epstein N, Grace JR and Bi HT, Volume contraction in liquid fluidization of binary solids mixtures, in Fluidization XII, ed. X.T. Bi, F. Berruti and T. Pugsley, United Engineering Conferences, Brooklyn, pp. 305-312.
• Rusnell D, Grace JR, Bi HT, Lim CJ, Ronan P and McKnight CA, Improved transfer line entrance for stable high-flux solids flow, in Fluidization XII, ed. X.T. Bi, F. Berruti and T. Pugsley, United Engineering Conferences, Brooklyn, pp. 161-168. 2007
• Stefanova A, Grace JR, Lim CJ, BI HT, Lim KS and Sanderson J, Scale-up effect on heat transfer in fluidized beds near the onset of turbulent fluidization, in Fluidization XII, ed. X.T. Bi, F. Berruti and T. Pugsley, United Engineering Conferences, Brooklyn, pp. 273-280, 2007.
• Bi HT, Chen A and Grace JR, Monitoring electrostatic charges in fluidized beds, in Fluidization XII, ed. X.T. Bi, F. Berruti and T. Pugsley, United Engng. Conferences, Brooklyn, pp.1001-1008, 2007.
• Kirbas G, Bi HT, Lim CJ and Grace JR, Local particle velocity distributions in high-density circulating fluidized beds, in Fluidization XII, ed. X.T. Bi, F. Berruti and T. Pugsley, United Engng Conferences, Brooklyn, pp.71-78, 2007.
• Mahecha-Botero A, Grace JR, Elnashaie and Lim CJ, Time scale analysis of a fluidized-bed catalytic reactor based on a generalized dynamic model, in Fluidization XII, ed. X.T. Bi, F. Berruti and T. Pugsley, United Engng Conferences, Brooklyn, pp. 623-630, 2007.
• Boyd T., Grace JR, Lim CJ and Adris AM, Cold modelling of an internally circulating fluidized bed membrane reactor, Intern. J. Chem. Reactor Engng., 5, A26 (2007).
• Elnashaie SSEH and Grace JR, Complexity, bifurcation and chaos in natural and man-made lumped and distributed systems, Chem. Eng. Sci., 62, 3295-3325 (2007).
• Li AW, Grace JR and Lim CJ, Preparation of thin Pd-based composite membrane on planar substrate: I. Pre-treatment of porous stainless steel substrate, J. Membrane Sci., 298, 175-181 (2007).
• Chen A. Bi HT and Grace JR, Charge distribution around a rising bubble in a two-dimensional fluidized bed by signal reconstruction, Powder Technol. 177, 113-124 (2007).
• Cui HP and Grace JR, Flow of pulp fibre suspensions and slurries – a review, Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 33, 921-934 (2007).
• Kim TW, Choi JH, Shun DW, Kim SS, Kim SD and Grace JR, Wear of water walls in a commercial circulating fluidized bed combustor with two exits, Powder Technol., 178, 143-150 (2007).
• Cornelissen J, Escudie R, Taghipour F, Ellis N and Grace JR, CFD modelling of a liquid-fluidized bed, Chem. Eng. Sci., 63, 6334-6348 (2007).
• Grace JR, Cui HP and Elnashaie SSEH, Non-uniform distribution of two-phase flows through parallel identical paths, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 85, 662-668 (2007).
• Sun P, Grace JR, Lim CJ and Anthony EJ, Removal of CO2 by calcium-based sorbents in the presence of SO2, Energy and Fuels, 21, 163-170 (2007).
• Chen ZX, Lim CJ and Grace JR, Study of limestone particle impact attrition, Chem. Eng. Sci, 62, 867-877 (2007)
• Sun P. Grace JR, Lim CJ and Anthony EJ, Co-capture of H2S and CO2 in a pressurized gasifier-based process, Energy & Fuels, 21, 836-844 (2007).
• Sun P. Grace JR, Lim CJ and Anthony EJ, Sequential capture of CO2 and SO2 under fluidized bed combustion conditions, Envir. Sci. & Technol., 41, 2943-2949 (2007).
• Chen ZX, Grace JR, Lim CJ and Li A, Experimental studies of pure hydrogen production in a commercialized fluidized-bed membrane reactor with SMR and ATR catalysts, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 32, 2359-2366 (2007).
• Sun P, Grace JR, Lim CJ and Anthony EJ, On the effect of CaO sintering on cyclic CO2 capture in energy systems, AIChE Journal, 53, 2432-2442 (2007).
• Li AW, Grace JR and Lim CJ, Preparation of thin Pd-based composite membrane on planar substrate: II: Preparation of membranes by electroless plating and characterization. J. Membrane Sci., 306, 159-165 (2007).
• Chen Z, Po F, Grace JR, Lim CJ, Elnashaie SSEH, Mahecha-Botero A, Rakib M, Shirazali Y and Yasuda I, Sorbent-enhanced/membrane-assisted steam-methane reforming, Chem. Eng. Sci., 63, 170-182 (2008).
• Sun P, Grace JR, Lim CJ and Anthony EJ, Determination of the intrinsic rate constants of the CaO-CO2 reaction, Chem. Eng. Sci., 63, 47-56 (2008).
• Sun P, Grace JR, Lim CJ and Anthony EJ, A discrete pore-size-distribution-based gas-solid model and its application to the CaO + CO2 reaction, Chem. Eng. Sci., 63, 57-70 (2008).
• Stefanova A, Bi XT, Lim CJ and Grace JR, Heat transfer from immersed vertical tube in a fluidized bed of group A particles near the transition to the turbulent fluidization flow regime, Int.  J. Heat & Mass Transf. 51, 2020-2028 (2008).
• Abo Ghander N, Grace JR, Elnashaie SSEH and Lim CJ, Modeling of a novel membrane reactor to integrate dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline, Chem. Eng. Sci,, 63, 1817-1826 (2008).
• Cui HP and JR Grace, Spouting of biomass particles: a review. Bioresource Technology, 99, 4008-4020 (2008).
• Nagahashi Y, Grace JR, Lim KS and Asako Y, Dynamic force reduction and heat transfer improvement for horizontal tubes in large-particle gas-fluidized beds, J. Thermal Sci., 17, 77-83 (2008).
• Mahecha-Botero A., Boyd T, Gulamhusein A, Comyn N, Lim CJ, Grace JR, Shirasaki Y and Isamu Y, Pure hydrogen production in a fluidized bed membrane reactor: Experimental findings, Chem. Eng. Sci., 63, 2752-2762 (2008).
• Kulah G, Song A, Lim CJ, Bi HT and Grace JR, Solids mixing in a high-density CFB risers, in Circulating Fluidized Bed Technology, ed. J. Werther, W. Nowak, K-E. Wirth and E-U. Hartge, TuTech Innovation, Hamburg, Germany, pp. 135-140, 2008.
• Zhao, J, Lim CJ, Grace JR and Legros R, Nitric oxide formation and destruction in a CFB: two-zone model, in Circulating Fluidized Bed Technology, ed. J. Werther, W. Nowak, K-E. Wirth and E-U. Hartge, TuTech Innovation, Hamburg, Germany, pp. 559-564, 2008.
• Grace JR, Maldistribution of flow through parallel cyclones in circulating fluidized beds, in Circulating Fluidized Bed Technology, ed. J. Werther, W. Nowak, K-E. Wirth and E-U. Hartge, TuTech Innovation, Hamburg, Germany, pp. 969-974, 2008.
• Dai J and Grace JR, A model for biomass screw feeding. Powder Technology, 186, 40-55 (2008).
• Dai J and Grace JR, Biomass screw feeding with tapered and extended sections, Powder Technology, 186, 56-64 (2008).
• Dai J, Sokhansanj S, Grace JR, Bi, HT, Lim CJ and Melin S, Overview and some issues related to co-firing biomass and coal, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 86, 367-386 (2008).
• Li AW, Lim CJ, Boyd T and Grace JR, Simulation of autothermal reforming in a staged-separation membrane reactor for pure hydrogen production, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 86, 387-395 (2008).
• Rakib M, Grace JR, Elnashaie SSEH, Lim CJ and Bolkan YG, Kinetic simulation of a compact reactor for hydrogen production by steam reforming of higher hydrocarbons, Can. J. Chem. Eng, 86, 403-412 (2008).
• Oliviera WP, Souza CRF, Lim CJ and Grace JR, Evaluation of flow regimes in a semi-cylindrical spouted bed through statistical mutual information, spectral and Hurst’s analysis, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 86, 582-597 (2008).
• Chen ZW, Lim CJ and Grace JR, Hydrodynamics of slot-rectangular spouted beds – effect of slot configuration on the local flow structure, Can. J. Chem. Eng., 86, 598-604 (2008).
• Danon-Schaffer MN, Grace JR, Ikonomou MG, PBDEs in waste disposal sites from northern Canada", Organohalogen Compounds, 70, 365-368 (2008).
• Sun P, Lim CJ and Grace JR, Cyclic CO2 capture by limestone-derived sorbent during prolonged calcination/carbonation cycling, AIChE Journal, 54, 1668-1677 (2008).
• Sun P, Grace JR, Lim CJ and Anthony EJ, Investigation of attempts to improve cyclic CO2 capture by sorbent hydration and modification, Ind Eng. Chem Res. 47, 2024-2032 (2008).

OTHER AFFILIATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS

• Director, Fluidization Research Centre (FRC)
• Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering
• Fellow, Chemical Institute of Canada
• Fellow, Engineering Institute of Canada
• Fellow, Royal Society of Canada
• Faculty Associate, PAPRICAN
• Professional Engineer, British Columbia

TEACHING

• CHBE 251, Transport Phenomena I (Fluid Mechanics)
• CHBE 344, Unit Operations I
• CHBE 351, Transport Phenomena II (Heat/Mass Transfer)
• CHBE 452, Environmental Process Design Project
• CHBE 455, Kinetics and Reactor Design
• CHBE 456, Heterogeneous Catalysis and Advanced Reactor Design
• CHBE 550, Advanced Reactor Design
• CHBE 559, Topics in Chemical Engineering
• CHBE 561, Particulate and Multiphase Systems
• APSC 262, Technology and Society II