Continuum Modeling of Slightly Wet Fluidization with Electrical Capacitance Tomograph Validation

Yassir Makkawi (), Xi Yu, Raffaella Ocone and Sotos Generalis
Additional contact information
Yassir Makkawi: Bioenergy and Solar Conversion Research Group (BSCRG), College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
Xi Yu: School of Chemistry, The University of Southampton, East Highfield Campus, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Raffaella Ocone: Department of Chemical Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Sotos Generalis: Applied Mathematics and Data Science, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Gas–solid fluidized bed reactors are widely used in the power generation industry. The critical effect of the presence of liquid phase, either as a result of heat, chemical reaction or physical interaction, on the hydrodynamics of the reactor is well recognized by academic researchers and industrial operators. However, theory and simulation frameworks to predict such a condition using the continuum modeling approach are not yet available. This study first shows the significant changes in the flow pattern and distinguishable flow regimes in a slightly wet fluidized bed recorded by an advanced imaging technique. The study then describes the development and implementation of new mathematical formulations for wet particle-particle interactions in a continuum model based on the classic kinetic theory of granular flow (KTGF). Quantitative validation, carried out by comparing the predicted and measured fluidization index (FI) expressed in terms of pressure drop, has shown a good match. The prediction also demonstrates increased bubble splitting, gas channeling, slugging fluidization, and energy dissipation induced by liquid bridges developing from wet particle interactions. These characteristics are similar to those commonly observed in the fluidization of cohesive powders. This model constitutes an important step in extending the continuum theories of dry flow to wet particle-particle interactions. This will allow accurate description and simulation of the fluidized bed in its widest application including power generation systems that involve wet particle fluidization.

Keywords: numerical simulation; wet particulate; fluidized bed reactor; granular flows (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/11/2656/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/11/2656/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:11:p:2656-:d:1405493

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().