Hydrodynamic Modelling of Municipal Solid Waste Residues in a Pilot Scale Fluidized Bed Reactor

João Cardoso, Valter Silva, Daniela Eusébio and Paulo Brito
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João Cardoso: C3i—Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Innovation, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal
Valter Silva: C3i—Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Innovation, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal
Daniela Eusébio: C3i—Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Innovation, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal
Paulo Brito: C3i—Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Innovation, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7300-110 Portalegre, Portugal

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: The present study investigates the hydrodynamics and heat transfer behavior of municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification in a pilot scale bubbling fluidized bed reactor. A multiphase 2-D numerical model following an Eulerian-Eulerian approach within the FLUENT framework was implemented. User defined functions (UDFs) were coupled to improve hydrodynamics and heat transfer phenomena, and to minimize deviations between the experimental and numerical results. A grid independence study was accomplished through comparison of the bed volume fraction profiles and by reasoning the grid accuracy and computational cost. The standard deviation concept was used to determine the mixing quality indexes. Simulated results showed that UDFs improvements increased the accuracy of the mathematical model. Smaller size ratio of the MSW-dolomite mixture revealed a more uniform mixing, and larger ratios enhanced segregation. Also, increased superficial gas velocity promoted the solid particles mixing. Heat transfer within the fluidized bed showed strong dependence on the MSW solid particles sizes, with smaller particles revealing a more effective process.

Keywords: hydrodynamics; mixing and segregation; heat transfer; municipal solid waste gasification; pilot scale fluidized bed reactor; CFD FLUENT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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