CFD Simulation and Optimization of Mixing Behaviors in a Spouted Bed with a Longitudinal Vortex

The radial mixing characteristics of gas and solid phases in a cylindrical spouted bed with a pair of longitudinal vortex generators (LVGs) are numerically studied by a two-fluid model. The influence of the distance between the centers of two spheres (L) and the shape of LVGs on hydrodynamics in a spouted bed are discussed. The results show that the value of the coefficient of variation (CV) of the particle concentration can be significantly reduced by the longitudinal vortex produced in spouted beds. The particle concentration near the spout decreases first and then increases with the increase of L. When the shape of LVGs is cylindrical, a maximum increase of 188 % for particle volume fraction is found near the spout region of the spouted bed. The strengthening effect on particles' velocity achieves the best in annulus of the spouted bed, and CV of the particle concentration in the spouted bed reaches its minimum value with a pair of cylindrical LVGs.