CFD study of solids concentration in a fluidised-bed coater with variation of atomisation air pressure

The solids volume fraction inside a tapered fluidised bed coater was simulated with the use of an Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with atomisation nozzle sub-model. The drag force, describing momentum transfer between the gas and solid phases was calculated using the drag model proposed by [1]. In order to account for the particle size distribution of the fluidised solid materials, a 4-phase Eulerian model was used. The model-predicted results for different atomisation air pressures were verified using published experimental data [2]. It was shown that the model proved to be highly sensitive to changes in the fluidisation air flow rate with regard to the model-predicted solids volume distribution.

The solids volume fraction inside a tapered fluidised bed coater was simulated using a CFD model that included atomisation. The model-predicted results for different atomisation air pressures were verified using published experimental data. Results indicated that the model proved to be highly sensitive to changes in fluidisation air flow rate.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch Highlights
► Computational Fluid Dynamics (Euler) model of tapered fluidised bed reactor.
► Model included influence of the atomising nozzle on solids volume distribution.
► Model validated using published PEPT experimental data.
► Good correlation between modelled and experimental data was obtained.
► CFD model proved highly sensitive to changes in fluidisation air flow rate.