Investigating effect of pulsed flow on hydrodynamics of gas-solid fluidized bed using two-fluid model simulation and experiment

Gas-solid flow behavior in a pulsed fluidized bed was studied experimentally and numerically. Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid model approach in conjunction with the kinetic theory of granular flow was used for simulation of dense gas-solid flow. The effect of pulsating flow with frequency range of 1 to 10 Hz for particle sizes of Geldart B and A/B group with variation of particle density was investigated. Model simulation results were compared reasonably well with researcher's findings and the experimental data. Time-averaged local pressure drop and solid volume fraction were obtained and the effect of various pulsation frequencies on the bed expansion ratio, solid volume fraction, voidage and solid axial velocity was discussed. By increasing the pulsation frequency up to 10 Hz, results show reduction in the bubble size, bed expansion ratio and pressure fluctuation. Time-averaged axial velocity and voidage have a flatter profile with increasing pulsation frequency. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.