A new structural parameters model based on drag coefficient for simulation of circulating fluidized beds

•A new structural parameters model for circulating fluidized beds is established.•The typical hydrodynamics of the circulating fluidized bed are observed.•The solid mass flux and gas voidage profile are predicted well.

This work presented a new scheme to establish structural parameters model, and the model was used to solve structural parameters based on the available structure-based drag model. By combining with the Eulerian two-fluid model, the hydrodynamics of circulating fluidized beds (CFBs) was simulated. Different combinations of clusters properties, including the cluster voidage and diameter, were adopted to fit for Geldart A and B particles and to close the insufficient solving equations, respectively. The simulated solid mass flux, radial and axial voidage profiles were in agreement with the experimental data. The dilute-top/dense-bottom and the core-annular flow structure were also captured. Moreover the spatiotemporal fluctuation of clusters can be observed from those simulations. Simulation results showed the combination of the structural parameters model with the available structure-based drag model can predict well the hydrodynamics for Geldart A and B particles in CFBs.

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