A Numerical Model for the Motion of Large Non-Spherical Object in Fluidized Bed

In practical application of fluidized beds, large solids coexist with small solids. Tsuji et al. (AIChE J., 60(5), pp. 1606–1620, 2014) proposed a numerical model which expresses the behavior of flows including dense solid objects with large size difference based on the DEM-CFD coupling method. In the present study, the model is extended to represent the non-sphericity of large objects by adding a multi-sphere model. Firstly, we perform validation study in a mm-size bubbling fluidized bed and confirm qualitative agreements between the numerical model and the experiment. After that, sinking and floating motion of a large non-spherical object in a fluidized bed are numerically investigated in detail.