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Particle Technology and Fluidization
Bubble behavior in corrugated-wall bubbling fluidized beds—Experiments and CFD simulations
Article first published online: 27 JUL 2011
DOI: 10.1002/aic.12725
Copyright © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Additional Information
How to Cite
Wardag, A. N. K. and Larachi, F. (2012), Bubble behavior in corrugated-wall bubbling fluidized beds—Experiments and CFD simulations. AIChE J., 58: 2045–2057. doi: 10.1002/aic.12725
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 JUN 2012
- Article first published online: 27 JUL 2011
- Accepted manuscript online: 7 JUL 2011 09:01AM EST
- Manuscript Revised: 29 JUN 2011
- Manuscript Received: 4 NOV 2010
Funded by
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Strategic Grant Program
- Canada Research Chair “Green processes for cleaner and sustainable energy”
- Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Keywords:
- incipient fluidization;
- bubble size;
- bubble coalescence and breakup;
- bubble rise velocity;
- corrugated-walled bubbling fluidized bed;
- digital image analysis;
- Euler-Euler simulations
Abstract
A new concept to harness bubble dynamics in bubbling fluidization of Geldart D particles was proposed. Various geometrical declinations of a cold-prototype corrugated-wall bubbling fluidized bed were compared at different flow rates (Ug) to conventional flat-wall fluidized bed using high-speed digital image analysis. Hydrodynamic studies were carried out to appraise the effect of triangular-shaped wall corrugation on incipient fluidization, bubble coalescence (size and frequency), bubble rise velocity, and pressure drop. Bubble size and rise velocity in corrugated-wall beds were appreciably lower, at given Ug/Umb, than in flat-wall beds with equal flow cross-sectional areas and initial bed heights. The decrease (increase) in size (frequency) of bubbles during their rise was sustained by their periodic breakups while protruding through the necks between corrugated plates. Euler-Euler transient full three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulations helped shape an understanding of the impact of corrugation geometry on lowering the minimum bubbling fluidization and improving gas distribution. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012