Simulation of a Fluidized bed hydrodynamics using Comsol Multiphysics

This study presents CFD hydrodynamic simulations of Geldart A group particles in a fluidized bed using two different types of particles. The simulation was performed using Comsol Multiphysics for multiphase flow, in a 2 dimensional (2-D) configuration. The Eulerian-Eulerian approach was used to simulate the hydrodynamic behavior of the fluidized bed. Krieger type viscous model, Gidaspow-Ettehadieh solid pressure model and Gidaspow drag model were employed along with slip in the dispersed phase boundary condition for the wall, so the velocity component normal to the wall will be zero. FCC particles and activated carbon particles were simulated with different gas velocitiesand . gGas-solid distributions were obtained along with continuous phase velocity profiles as a function of time. A comparison with experimental results was also done. The rResults show that the fluidized beds have a similar behavior in the simulation compared to the experimental results, meaning that the simulations predicted successfully the hydrodynamic behavior of the fluidized bed. As the gas velocity increased, the bed height increased and solid concentration inside the bedthe solid´s density decreased.