Triple Phase Simulation of Bubbling Fluidized Beds of Geldart “A” Particles with a Bubble-Based Drag Model

Abstract

A triple-phase numerical model was developed for the simulations of gas-solid bubbling fluidized beds with Geldart “A” particles. In the model, the gas-solids suspension was modeled as a primary gas phase presented in the emulsion, a secondary gas phase presented in the bubble, and a third phase consisting of solids. A bubble-based drag model was derived taking into account of the heterogeneous flow structures of the emulsion phase. The KTGF model was used to describe the solid phase stresses. Simulations were conducted for two different scales bubbling fluidized beds of Group “A” particles. Mesh independences were confirmed up to a radial grid size of 200 times particle diameter, and the sensitivity of the transitional results on the time-steps was investigated. The predicted bed expansion and the voidage distribution, axial and radial solids volume fraction profiles, and the solids velocity vectors have been validated against literature data.