Computational particle-fluid dynamics simulation of gas-solid flow in a circulating fluidized bed with air or O 2 /CO 2 as fluidizing gas

In-situ desulfurization using porous Ca-based materials for the oxy-CFB process: A computational study

Within circulating fluidized bed (CFB) processes, gas and solid behaviors are mutually affected by operating conditions. Therefore, understanding the behaviors of gas and solid materials inside CFB processes is required for designing and operating those processes. In addition, in order to minimize the environmental impact, modeling to reduce pollutants such as SO_x emitted from those processes is essential, and simulation reproduction is necessary for optimization, but little is known. In this study, the gas and solid behaviors in a pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed combustor were investigated by using computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD) numerical simulation based on the multiphase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) method under oxy-fuel combustion conditions. In particular, the combustion and in-situ desulfurization reactions simultaneously were considered in this CPFD model. Effect of fluidization number (U_LS/U_mf) was investigated through the comparison of particle circulation rates with regards to the loop seal flux plane and bed height in the standpipe. In addition, the effects of parameters (temperature, Ca/S molar ratio, and particle size distribution), sensitive indicators for the desulfurization efficiency of limestone, were confirmed. Based on the cycle of the thermodynamic equilibrium curve of limestone, it is suggested that direct and indirect desulfurization occur simultaneously under different operating conditions in CFB, creating an environment in which various reactions other than desulfurization can occur. Addition of the reaction equations (i.e., porosity, diffusion) to the established simple model minimizes uncertainty in the results. Furthermore, the model can be utilized to optimize in-situ desulfurization under oxy-CFB operating conditions.

An Assessment of Drag Models in Eulerian–Eulerian CFD Simulation of Gas–Solid Flow Hydrodynamics in Circulating Fluidized Bed Riser

Accurate prediction of the hydrodynamic profile is important for circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactor design and scale-up. Multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation with interphase momentum exchange is key to accurately predict the gas-solid profile along the height of the riser. The present work deals with the assessment of six different drag model capability to accurately predict the riser section axial solid holdup distribution in bench scale circulating fluidized bed. The difference between six drag model predictions were validated against the experiment data. Two-dimensional geometry, transient solver and Eulerian–Eulerian multiphase models were used. Six drag model simulation predictions were discussed with respect to axial and radial profile. The comparison between CFD simulation and experimental data shows that the Syamlal-O’Brien, Gidaspow, Wen-Yu and Huilin-Gidaspow drag models were successfully able to predict the riser upper section solid holdup distribution with better accuracy, however unable to predict the solid holdup transition region. On the other hand, the Gibilaro model and Helland drag model were successfully able to predict the bottom dense region, but the upper section solid holdup distribution was overpredicted. The CFD simulation comparison of different drag model has clearly shown the limitation of the drag model to accurately predict overall axial heterogeneity with accuracy.

Simulation of a Scaled down 250 MWe CFB Boiler Using Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics Numerical Model

Eulerian-Eulerian approach and conventional Eulerian-Lagrangian model are computationally exhaustive for modelling circulating fluidized bed (CFB) riser which has wide particle size distribution and billions of particles Alternatively, the relatively recent Eulerian- Lagrangian computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD) model enables simulation of the CFB system with lesser computational resources. Most of the published studies on CPFD simulations of CFB risers deal with single grate system. The present study aimed to investigate the performance of the CPFD model for predicting solids distribution in a CFB riser with pant-leg structure (dual grate) and characteristics similar to a commercial boiler. Experiments conducted in a scaled down 250 MWe CFB facility according to Glicksman’s simplified similarity laws for fluidized beds were simulated using commercial code Barracuda. The bottom dense bed, upper lean solid phase, increase in bottom bed voidage with increasing fluidizing velocity and reducing solids inventory, decrease in bottom bed solids concentration with decrease in particle size and exchange of solids between the legs typically occurring in a CFB with pant-leg structure were successfully captured by the CPFD calculations. Simulation results showed that the upper solids concentration is hardly influenced by the solids inventory level in line with the experimental observation, therefore the amount of solids inventory can be optimized during actual operation. The predicted pressures varied from the average experimental pressure data within the range –10 to 39 %.