CFD Simulation of Mixing and Segregation of Binary Solid Mixtures in a Dense Fluidized Bed

Abstract

The mixing and segregation behaviour of binary solid mixtures has been extensively studied through various experiments, while accurate CFD simulations are difficult to achieve due to process complexity and a lack of reliable constitutive relations. In this study, CFD simulations of a dense fluidized bed with glass and polystyrene particles were performed in order to identify a universal set of simulation parameters and models for simulating binary mixtures with different mixed and segregation behaviour. Through a comparison to experimental data, it was found that the EMMS drag model coupled with the Ma‐Ahmadi solid pressure and radial distribution models predicted more a reasonable axial distribution of solid phases than the Syamlal O'Brien drag model coupled with the Lun et al. solid pressure and radial distribution models. The increase in the solid‐solid drag further improved the simulation results.