Effect of a baffle on bubble distribution in a bubbling fluidized bed

Abstract

In this study, the multi-phase Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid method (TFM) coupled with the kinetic theory of granular flow (KTGF) was used to investigate the hydrodynamics of particle flows (Geldart Group B) in a lab-scale bubbling fluidized bed. The goal was to improve the bubble flow behavior inside the fluidized bed to improve the distribution of an injected liquid, by increas-ing the flow of bubbles entering the spray jet cavity and, thus, reduce the formation of wet agglom-erates. The effects of a baffle on both the injection level and the whole fluidized bed were studied. Different baffle geometries were also investigated. Adding a fluxtube to a baffle can improve the bubble flows and a long fluxtube works best at redirecting gas bubbles. Baffles tend to smooth out variations in the gas distribution caused by the non-uniform inlet gas distribution. A gas pocket appears under all the baffles.