Analyzing the Effects of Geometrical and Particle Size Uncertainty in Circulating Fluidized Beds using CPFD Simulation

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamic modeling and simulation is becoming a useful tool in the detailed analysis of multiphase flow systems. The level of uncertainty is different depending on selected modeling concept and numerical schemes. Physical uncertainties originated from geometrical dimensions and particle properties are important aspects. In this work, CPFD method was used to analyze the effect of dimensional uncertainty of loopseal pipe diameter and particle size distribution in a circulating fluidized bed. Five different pipe diameters were studied and 20% growth in particle circulation rate was observed as the diameter reduced from 30mm to 26mm. The effect of small changes in the particle size distribution was negligible and the particle circulation rate decreased by 32% with monodisperse particles of mean size.