NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF TURBULENT PARTICLE-LADEN GAS-FLOW IN AN IN-LINE TUBE BANK

Turbulent particle-laden gas flow in an in-line tube bank is studied, computationally and experimentally. An Eulerian model with generalised Eulerian boundary conditions for the particulate phase is employed. I n the momentum balance equations, the particulate phase momentum excha nges with solid walls are included. The turbulent effects of the gas p hase are taken into account using a renormalization group (RNG) based k-epsilon turbulence model while the particulate turbulent diffusivity is related to the turbulent viscosity of the gas phase. The experimen t is performed in an in-line tube bank located in a horizontal wind tu nnel, using laser-Doppler Anemometry (LDA). The comparison of numerica l predictions with experimental data is made for the mean axial and tr ansverse velocity profiles of both phases, the turbulent intensity of the gas phase, and the distribution of particle concentration in the t ube bank. Very good agreement with experimental data is obtained for c omputed values of the mean velocity of both gas and particulate phases , and the particulate concentration distribution. Interesting informat ion is also presented which shows the different flow behaviour demonst rated by the gas and particulate phases, in particular for larger part icles. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.