Numerical Simulation of the Gas-Solid Flow by DEM-CFD Approach with Application to a Spouted Bed

The paper presents a computational study of the gas-solid flow in a three- dimensional spouted bed by a combined approach of discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD).The coupling between the discrete particle and continuum gas was achieved by applying the principle of Newton’s third law of motion. As a result, it is found that the motion of particles was forming a distinct circulation between center zone and boundary zone of the 3D spouted bed in macro, and there was a stagnant zone near the bottom of the bed in which the particle velocity is almost zero near the wall, they do not move anywhere. Pressure drop will be affected by wind speed and particle density. With enhancing of wind velocity, pressure drop appears an increasing trend until it is up to a certain value, and then the curve will have a certain degree of back and keep in an extension; Adding particle density, pressure drop and its swing is increased markedly. The results of this study provide important information in the spouted bed and may be helpful for better application and modification of this type of spouted bed to the industrial process.