A CPFD model for a bubbly biomass–sand fluidized bed

• We developed particle fluid dynamics computations in a sand–biomass fluidized bed.
• We compared bubble size and bubble velocity distributions with data from fiber optics.
• We showed that CPFD is satisfactory for 8 wt.% and 16 wt.% sand–biomass beds.
• We showed that CPFD describes bubble size and bubble velocity asymmetric distributions.
• We proved that CPFD gives close first, second, and third distribution statistical moments.

This study reports a computational particle fluid dynamics model for the numerical simulation of a sand fluidized bed with 8 wt.% and 16 wt.% biomass loadings. The proposed CPFD model, based on a Barracuda framework, is validated using experimental data obtained in a 15.2 cm diameter bed with a 22.5 cm static height. This fluidized bed unit is equipped with a pair of fiber optic sensors allowing one to obtain both the bubble size and bubble velocity frequency distributions in an ample range of experimental conditions. In addition to this, the first-, second-, and third-order statistical moments of the bubble size and the bubble velocity distributions are calculated for each one of the operating conditions studied. On this basis, the present study demonstrates that the proposed CPFD model reproduces the asymmetric character of both bubble size and bubble velocity distributions. In addition, the simulated and experimental bubble size and bubble velocity distributions yield close first-, second-, and third-order statistical moments. Accordingly, one can ascertain that the proposed CPFD model is quite satisfactory for establishing fluid flow patterns in sand–biomass fluidized bed gasifiers.

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