Spanning the flow regimes: Generic fluidized-bed reactor model

Probabilistic averaging is used to model fluidized-bed reactors across the three fluidlization flow regimes most commonly encountered in industry (bubbling, turbulent, and fast fluidization), extending earlier work, which introduced this approach to bridge the bubbling and turbulent regimes of fluidization. In extending this concept to the fast fluidization regime, the probabilities of being in each of the three regimes are represented as probability density functions derived from regime boundary transition data. The three regime-specific models-a generalized version of a two-phase bubbling bed model at low gas velocities, a dispersed flow model for turbulent beds at intermediate velocities, and a generalized version of a core-annulus model at higher velocities-are employed, leading to improved predictions compared with any of the individual models, while avoiding discontinuities at the regime boundaries. Predictions from the new integrated model are in good agreement with available ozone decomposition data over the full range of applicability covered elsewhere.