Numerical Analysis of Turbulent Gas-Particle Flow and Coal Combustion in a Fluidized-Bed Calciner

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze numerically the characteristics of turbulent gas-particle flow, heat transfer, and coal combustion process in a fluidized-bed calciner for a cement manufacturing process. The simulation model was based on FLUENT, a commercially avaliable fluid dynamics code. The effects of the mutual interactions between particles were simulated by a discrete phase modeling approach, while the decomposition of calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide upon heating was handled by a finite-rate reaction modeling approach. To verify the validity of the numerical simulation approach used in this work, the simulation results were compared with field data, for example, the gas velocity and temperature in some sampling points. The simulation results showed comparatively good correlations with the field data.