Partic. vol. 42 pp. 114-125 (February 2019)
doi: 10.1016/j.partic.2018.03.015

CFD–DEM simulation of fine particles in a spouted bed apparatus with a Wurster tube

Paul Breuninger^*, Dominik Weis, Isabell Behrendt, Philipp Grohn, Fabian Krull, Sergiy Antonyuk

paul.breuninger@mv.uni-kl.de

Abstract

In this work, a coupled computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method (CFD–DEM) approach was employed to evaluate the spouting behavior of fine, cohesive powders in a cylindrical spouted bed with a conical base and equipped with a Wurster tube. The particle and gas dynamics inside the apparatus were simulated with 1.7 million spherical ZrO₂ particles with a particle size of 100 μm. For an accurate prediction of the interactions of cohesive particles in the spouted bed, the adhesion forces according to JKR theory were included in the Hertz–Tsuji contact model. The surface energy of the particles was varied over a wide range to determine the effect of the adhesion on the spouting (the fountain shape and maximum height as well as the distribution of the concentrations and velocities of particles in different zones of the apparatus). A detailed analysis of the collision dynamics was conducted. The spouting behavior of a spouted bed with the same dimensions, particles, and processing parameters was recorded with a high-speed camera. The CFD–DEM simulations showed good agreement with the experimentally captured spouting behavior.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

CFD–DEM; Spouted bed; Wurster tube; Cohesive powder