Two- or three-dimensional simulations of turbulent gas-solid flows appliedto fluidization

Numerical simulations of a stationary bubbling fluidized bed (BFB), based o n an Eulerian approach, are performed. The closure of the Eulerian model is treated with two-equation models. Emphasis is put on the importance of thr ee dimensionality in the simulations. The numerical results are compared to local instantaneous pressure measurements and time-averaged measurements ( bed height and probability density function (pdf) of the spatial distributi on of particles). The results of the Simulations show that two-dimensional simulations should be used with caution and only for sensitivity analysis, whereas three-dimensional simulations are able to reproduce both the static s (bed height and pdf of the spatial distribution of particles) and the dyn amics (power spectrum of pressure fluctuations) of the bed. The non-spheric ity of the particles is accounted for in the models and its influence on th e results is presented. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.