Simulation of an internally circulating fluidized bed using a multiphase particle-in-cell method

• A room temperature experimental internally circulating fluidized bed is modelled.
• The multiphase particle-in-cell technique is employed using CPFD Barracuda.
• Qualitative prediction of bubbling bed dynamics is excellent.
• Prediction of solid particle recirculation rate is within 39.2% of experiment.
• The method successfully predicts internally recirculating fluidized bed behaviour.

This paper investigates the use of the multiphase particle in cell method (MP-PIC) in modelling the gas–solid flow in a laboratory-scale isothermal internally circulating fluidized bed (ICFB), and compares results with experimental observations previously published by Hadley et al. (“Experimental quantification of the solids flux in an internally circulating fluidised bed”, Fluidization XIII, 2010, pp. 885–892). Glass ballotini (140 μm mean diameter) were fluidized with room temperature air, and fluidisation velocities in both the central reaction chamber and two heat exchange chambers were varied to provide nine different chamber velocity ratio conditions for investigation. The model reliably predicted the overall bed dynamics of both gas and solid flow. Predicted solid recirculation rates were generally within one standard deviation of the mean experimental values, although under-prediction tended to occur at lower fluidisation rates. It was concluded that the MP-PIC method was a reliable tool for modelling bubbling fluidized bed behaviour of non-cohesive particles.

Description for the graphical abstractA room temperature experimental internally circulating fluidized bed is modelled using the multiphase particle-in-cell technique. Qualitative and quantitative prediction of bed behaviour and recirculation rate is presented. The method is found suitable for predicting internally circulating fluidized bed behaviour.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide