ECT measurement and CFD–DEM simulation of particle distribution in a down-flow fluidized bed

In the present study, a combined model of computational fluid dynamics and the discrete element method (CFD–DEM) was used to simulate the particle distributions in a down-flow fluidized bed (DFB) with a newly designed particle–air distributor. In the simulation model, particle motion is calculated by solving Newton’s equations and the flow field of air is predicted by the Navier–Stokes equations. The calculation was made for the same geometric and operating conditions as the experiment which was carried out for comparison with the simulation using electrical capacitance tomography (ECT). The numerical predictions for the axial and radial profiles of the particle distribution agreed well with the experimental results.