Simulation of object motion in a bubbling fluidized bed using a Monte Carlo method

•The motion of a neutrally-buoyant object in a bubbling fluidized bed was analyzed.•A 1D Monte Carlo method was employed to simulate the motion.•Some experimental data obtained in a 2D fluidized bed was used in the method.•Experimental and simulated circulation times are in a good agreement for the 2D bed.•The method was extrapolated to a 3D bed and compared to experimental measurements.

The motion of a large neutrally-buoyant object immersed in a 2D bubbling fluidized bed was simulated using a Monte Carlo method. The object vertical trajectory within the bed was simulated for a range of dimensionless gas velocities using a simple 1D model. The main characteristics of the object motion were obtained from the trajectory simulation and compared with experimental evidence giving good results. On a second step, the time scale of the motion is introduced in the simulated data by means of well-known 2D correlations for the bubble and dense phase velocity. The circulation time of an object (from the instant when it leaves the freeboard and sinks in the dense phase till the moment it reappears back in the surface) was then obtained and compared with experimental data, showing a general agreement. Finally, an extrapolation for a 3D fluidized bed was made following a similar procedure.