Development and validation of CFD models for gas phase reactions in biomass grate furnaces considering gas streak formation above the packed bed

•The streak formation model based on a correlation between the local gas residence time and a mixing time is introduced.•A near wall combustion approach is developed.•The streak formation model is linked with the hybrid gas phase reaction model.•The results obtained with the hybrid-streak model are in good agreement with experimental data.

State-of-the-art packed bed models supply continuous concentration profiles as boundary conditions for subsequent CFD simulations of gas phase, leading to pre-mixed combustion conditions. However, in reality the “porous” nature of the packed bed leads to streak formation influencing gas mixing and combustion. Therefore, in the present work, in order to account for the influence of the streaks on gas phase combustion, a gas streak model based on a correlation between the local gas residence time and a mixing time has been developed based on numerical simulations. Finally, the streak model was linked with an in-housed developed hybrid gas phase combustion model suitable for laminar to highly turbulent flow conditions and applied for an under-feed pellet stoker furnace (20 kWth) concerning the simulation of gas phase combustion and NOx formation. The results in comparison with a simulation without the streak formation model show that the flue gas species prediction can be improved with the proposed streak formation model. Especially, in the region above the fuel bed (in the primary combustion chamber), this is of special importance for NOx reduction by primary measures.