One-Dimensional Modeling of Hydrodynamics in a Swirling Fluidized Bed

The present work studies the hydrodynamics of a swirling fluidized bed (SFB) for packed and swirling regimes using an analytical model that draws inspiration from the order-of-magnitude analysis approach. In minimizing the complexity in solving the hydrodynamics model in SFB, the multiple-dimensional modeling in a cylindrical coordinate (r,θ,z), which requires a complex partial differential equation solution, is reduced to one-dimensional formulation in only the axial direction (z). The model is based on the principles of force and moment equilibrium when the fluid passing through the bed particles. It is used for predicting the axial variation of hydrodynamic properties such as angular velocity of bed particles, linear velocity of bed particles and gas velocity across the bed. Hydrodynamics of SFB are related as a function of angle of injection, mass of bed, superficial velocity of fluid and the density of particle and fluid gas. Pressure drop across the bed height is further estimated using hydrodynamics of SFB. Experiment is carried out in a swirling fluidized bed with two different sizes of spherical PVC particles. The model shows good agreement between the theoretical and experimentally obtained bed pressure drop.