Three-Dimensional VOF-DEM Simulation Study of Particle Fluidization Induced by Bubbling Flow

The bubbling flow plays a key role in gas–liquid–solid fluidized beds. To understand the intrinsic fluidization behaviors at the discrete bubble and particle scale, coupled simulations with the volume of fluid model and the discrete element method are performed to investigate the effects of the gas inlet velocity, particle properties and two-orifice bubbling flow on particle fluidization. Three-dimensional simulations are carried out to accurately capture the dynamic changes in the bubble shape and trajectory. A bubbling flow with a closely packed bed is simulated to study the onset of particle fluidization. The obvious phenomena of particle fluidization are presented by both the experiment and simulation. Although an increasing gas inlet velocity promotes particle fluidization, the good fluidization of particles cannot be achieved solely by increasing the gas inlet velocity. When the channel is packed with more particles, the bubbles take a longer time to pass through the higher particle bed, and the bubbles grow larger in the bed. The increase in particle density also extends the time needed for the bubbles to escape from the bed, and it is more difficult to fluidize the particles with a larger density. Even if more particles are added into the channel, the percentage of suspended particles is not significantly changed. The percentage of suspended particles is not increased with a decrease in the particle diameter. The particle suspension is not significantly improved by the bubbling flow with two orifices, while the particle velocity is increased due to the more frequent bubble–particle collisions. The findings from this study will be beneficial in guiding the enhancement of particle fluidization in multiphase reactors.