CFD Modeling of a Spouted-Bed Dryer Hydrodynamics

A hydrodynamic model based on continuity and conservation equations was used to predict flow behavior in a spouted-bed dryer with a draft tube. The Eulerian-Eulerian multi-fluid modeling approach was applied to predict a gas–solid flow behavior. The model was qualitatively validated and the results of simulations were compared with the experimental data published by various researchers. The model predicts flow behavior well with fluctuations, circulations of phases, and cluster formations in the loading region, as was observed in experiments. The predicted solids circulation rate and the fraction of gas bypassing were close to experimental values published for various systems. The coarse 2D axisymmetric grid, used in simulations, can handle the main process dependencies with a sufficient accuracy for engineering calculations.