Hydrodynamics of binary fluidization in a riser: CFD simulation using two granular temperatures

A new computational fluid-dynamic (CFD) model with a separate granular temperature (2/3 random particle kinetic energy per unit of mass) equation for each phase or particle size was developed using constitutive equations derived earlier by Huilin, Gidaspow and Manger. In agreement with the experiment and model of Mathiesen, Solberg and Hjertager the new model computes the observed core-annular flow regime. It predicts the trends of the observed radial and axial particle diameter distributions. For elastic particles the computed particle velocity distributions are parabolic. They are close to the laminar type approximate analytical solution for flow in a pipe, where the mean velocity equals the inlet flux divided by the particle density and volume fraction. The computed turbulent intensity is lower for large particles than for small particles, as measured. This is in agreement with an approximate analytical solution for the granular temperature in the developed flow region of a riser for elastic particles. Computations show that for sufficiently inelastic particles the granular temperature in the center can be lower than near the wall resembling the measured particle fluctuating velocity distribution. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.