High-resolution three-dimensional numerical simulation of a circulating fluidized bed

A simple averaged equation model for two-phase flows is used to perform hig h-resolution three-dimensional numerical simulations of aas-solid flow in a fluidized bed. Results are compared to experimental observations of Van de n Moortel et al. [Chem. Eng. Sci. 53 (10) (1998) 1883]. It is found that a simple averaged equation model, which accounts directly for only simple flu id-particle interactions, captures the basic physics of the two-phase flow provided sufficient resolution is used. This is because mesoscale structure s produced by the nonlinear interactions represented by the nonlinear terms in the averaged equations have dominant effects on the macroscale. Similar ities and differences between our results and those of Agrawal et al. [J. F luid Mech. (2000) submitted for publication] and the implications for futur e directions in two-phase flow theory for fluidized beds are discussed. Pub lished by Elsevier Science B.V.