3D CPFD simulation of gas-solids flow in the high-density downer with FCC particles

Abstract

The gas-solids flow in high-density downers with FCC particles was simulated by Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics (CPFD) approach. A drag model was proposed based on the equivalent diameter of cluster with the analysis of force balance on particle cluster. A global sensitivity analysis method was used to analyze the influencing factors of cluster size. The drag model was incorporated into the three-dimensional (3D) CPFD approach to simulate the gas-solids flow in two different downers operating at various conditions. 3D CPFD simulation provided detailed trajectories and distributions of solids. Good agreements of the predicted solids holdup and velocity with experimental data were achieved at both low and high-density conditions, which verified the rationality and applicability of the present drag model considering the characteristics of particle cluster in the downer. Finally, the flow and clustering behavior in the high-density downer were adequately analyzed and compared with that in low-density downer.