CFD simulation of barium carbonate precipitation in a fluidized bed reactor

CFD techniques are used to study the precipitation of barium carbonate in a solid-liquid fluidized bed reactor. Experimental analysis of the hydrodynamic behaviour for a neutralization reaction in the fluidized bed column, followed by CFD simulations is carried out using different reaction models. The Eddy Dissipation model, the Eddy Dissipation model-MTS and the Eddy Dissipation Concept micro-mixing models are tested in order to simulate the acid-base instantaneous reaction. The modelling of the precipitation in a fluidized bed reactor is coupled with the Eddy Dissipation model-MTS micro-mixing model and the k-epsilon standard turbulence model. Barium carbonate is chosen as the model substance. The liquid phase reaction rate as well as the nucleation, growth and aggregation kinetics is included in the precipitation model. The discrete method is chosen to solve the population balance equation. The activity coefficient needed to calculate the supersaturation in the kinetic equations is determined using the Bromley's method. A good agreement is obtained between the experimental results and the CFD results. (C) 2010 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.