Industrial Scale CFD Simulation of Gas–Solid Flow in a Fluidized Bed Roaster of Copper Concentrate

A modified drag force model combining drag coefficients of four-segment functions is used to simulate the flow profile of an industrial-scale fluidized bed roaster (FBR) by computational fluid dynamics. Gas–solid flow model for industrial-scale roaster is established and used to simulate the fluid behaviour by using the modified drag coefficient model. The expansion ratio of FBR is in reasonable agreement with commercial data. Calculation results predict the dense and dilute phase in the roaster well. Volume fraction, velocity vector and averaged particle velocity of three kinds of copper concentrate are investigated and calculated. The influence on particle properties and operating conditions on flow characteristics in the roaster are analysed. Copper concentrate with smaller diameter and larger density is more difficult to fluidize. With the increase of superficial gas velocity, the solid holdup decreases, the average particle velocity increases, the side wall effect weakens, and the fluidization quality improves.