Simulation of the steam-bitumen jet in the fluidized bed of coke particles using the Eulerian-Lagrangian splitting method

Simulation of the steam-bitumen jet injected into the steam-coke fluidized bed is presented. The computational method is based on the Eulerian-Lagrangian splitting. The Eulerian two-fluid model is used for the steam and the coke phases; the latter is composed of dry and wet coke particles. The Lagrangian model is applied to the bitumen droplets and the primary bitumen-coke agglomerates, generated by the random collisions of the droplets with the coke particles. A simple primary agglomeration-breakup model based on the experimental evidence is used. The gravity and the fluidizing cross-flow are neglected. Consequently, the computational problem is led to the axisymmetric form. Realistic results were obtained for the steam parameters at the end of the nozzle, the jet half-angle, and the location of the areas with the predominant agglomerations and breakups. The composition and stability of the agglomerates, and the mass transfer between the agglomerates and the coke phase are investigated.