Comparison of full-loop and riser-only simulations for a pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed riser

Shape Effect of the Riser Cross Section on the Full-Loop Hydrodynamics of a Three-Dimensional Circulating Fluidized Bed

In this work, numerical simulation is carried out in a three-dimensional full-loop pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed to explore the shape effect of the riser cross section on the typical flow characteristics of the bed via the multiphase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) method. The gas and solid phases are modeled with the large eddy simulation and Newton's law of motion in the Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks, respectively. The proposed model has been well validated with experimental data, followed by evaluating the typical core-annulus structure and the nonuniformity of the solid phase distributed along the radial and axial directions of the riser. Then, the particle-scale information of the solid phase distributed in different parts of the system is explored. The results demonstrate that (i) the square riser gives rise to a higher solid inventory in the standpipe owing to the stronger circulation intensity; (ii) the thickness of the solid back-mixing layer reduces along the riser height; the solid back-mixing tends to concentrate in the four corners, while it is not obvious near the sidewalls of the square riser; and (iii) nonuniform distribution of the particle-scale information of the solid phase (e.g., mass, flux, drag force, and slip velocity) can be observed. The square riser gives rise to comparatively more uniform axial mass distribution, a larger rising solid flux, larger horizontal transportation velocity between the core and annulus regions, and a larger horizontal dispersion coefficient in the riser, as compared with the corresponding ones in the circular riser.

Comparison of Riser-Simplified, Riser-Only, and Full-Loop Simulations for a Circulating Fluidized Bed

With the development of computing power, the simulation of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) has developed from riser-simplified simulation to riser-only simulation, then to full-loop simulation. This paper compared these three methods based on pilot-scale CFB experiment data to find the scope of application of each method. All these simulations, using the Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid model with the kinetic theory of granular theory, were conducted to simulate a pilot-scale CFB. The hydrodynamics, such as pressure balance, solids holdup distribution, solids velocity distribution, and instantaneous mass flow rates in the riser or CFB system, were investigated in different simulations. By comparing the results from different methods, it was found that riser-simplified simulation is not sufficient to obtain accurate hydrodynamics, especially in higher solids circulating rates. The riser-only simulation is able to make a reasonable prediction of time-averaged behaviors of gas–solids in most parts of riser but the entrance region. Further, the full-loop simulation can not only predict precise results, but also obtain comprehensive details and instantaneous information in the CFB system.