Non-spherical particles in a pseudo-2D fluidised bed: Modelling study. (31st December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mahajan, Vinay V.; Nijssen, Tim M.J.; Kuipers, J.A.M.; Padding, Johan T.
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 192(2018)
• Page Start: 1105
• Page End: 1123
• Publication Date: 2018-12-31
• Subjects: Fluidisation -- Non-spherical -- CFD-DEM -- Experiments -- Validation -- Bed height -- Pressure drop -- Orientation -- Coordination number; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2018.08.041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: CFD-DEM simulations of rodlike particles in fluidized bed. A novel model to account for voidage effects in drag. Evaluation of different non-spherical drag and voidage correction models. Importance of hydrodynamic torque in CFD-DEM modelling of non-spherical particles. Detailed one to one validation with experimental results of Mahajan et al. (2018). Abstract: Fluidised beds are used in a variety of processes because of their favourable mass and heat transfer characteristics. In this and many other processes, non-spherical particles are commonplace, which can drastically affect the fluidisation behaviour. In this study, we use numerical models to study non-spherical fluidisation behaviour in detail. A crucial step in the development of the numerical model is a detailed validation with experimental data. The validated model can then be used with confidence for further investigations. In this study, the results obtained from CFD-DEM modelling are compared with detailed experiments (Mahajan et al., 2017). The particles used are of spherocylindrical shape with an aspect ratio 4. We discuss the numerical modelling strategy including the DEM contact detection algorithm and accurate voidage calculation algorithm. The non-spherical single particle drag model of Hölzer and Sommerfeld (2008) is compared with a DNS drag model for spherocylindrical particles developed in-house. We propose two new voidage correction models and compare results with the (Di Felice, 1994) model. The pressure drop, bed height, particle orientation, particle circulation, stacking of particles and coordination number obtained from simulations are compared with experiments. The numerical measurements show good agreement with experiments. Similar to experiments, simulations show that rod-like particles are prone to interlocking behaviour. At high gas flow rates above the minimum fluidisation velocity, vigorously bubbling fluidisation is observed, with gas bubbles moving up through the center and particles moving down at the side walls. The orientation of particles in the fluidised state do not match with the experiments when hydrodynamic torque is neglected. The importance of hydrodynamic torque and multi-particle drag in CFD-DEM modelling of non-spherical particles is demonstrated through these results.