Powder Technology, Vol.200, No.3, 202-215, 2010
CFD studies of solids hold-up distribution and circulation patterns in gas-solid fluidized beds
Numerical results for a gas-fluidized bed using a 2D Eulerian model including the kinetic theory for the particulate phase were provided. The circulation patterns for various operating conditions were discussed. Modeling parameters of drag function, algebraic and transport equations of granular temperature, frictional stress model, turbulent model and discretization scheme were investigated for a bed with different gas distributors and a slotted draft tube. CFD results showed that the drag model is an important hydrodynamics parameter for gas-fluidized beds with various gas distributors. Transport and algebraic equations for granular temperature should be utilized, respectively, for beds including partial and complete sparging at U-g = 2.18 m/s. Frictional stresses play an important role for the beds containing partial sparging with and without draft tube. Discretization schemes should be examined to achieve better results. The Simonin and k-epsilon turbulent models can improve the CFD results at high gas velocities. Considering perforated plate distributor improves the results. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.