A review on CFD simulation of biomass pyrolysis in fluidized bed reactors with emphasis on particle-scale models

• Published in: Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis Vol. 162; p. 105433
• Main Authors: Luo, Hao, Wang, Xiaobao, Liu, Xinyan, Wu, Xiaoqin, Shi, Xiaogang, Xiong, Qingang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2022
• Subjects: biomass; Biomass pyrolysis; Computational fluid dynamics; fluid mechanics; fluidized beds; Intra-particle heat transfer; Multi-scale modelling; Particle-scale model; pyrolysis; Multi-scale modelling; Intra-particle heat transfer; Computational fluid dynamics; Particle-scale model; Biomass pyrolysis
• ISSN: 0165-2370; 1873-250X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2022.105433

This paper reviews the recent advances in multi-scale computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of biomass pyrolysis in fluidized bed reactors. The interconnection among molecular-scale, particle-scale, CFD cell-scale, and reactor-scale are first introduced, together with the Eulerian-Lagrangian (E-L) and Eulerian multi-fluid model (MFM) frameworks. Then an overview of the theoretical basis and practical applications of four main particle-scale models, i.e, uniform conversion model, progressive conversion model, interface-based model, and corrected uniform conversion model, are highlighted. The coupling of particle-scale models with CFD cell-scale models is discussed, as well as with molecular-scale models. Finally, the perspective of future work to develop reliable and efficient CFD models for simulating biomass pyrolysis in fluidized bed reactors is outlined. •Multi-scale CFD simulation of biomass pyrolysis in fluidized beds is reviewed.•Particle-scale models plays an important role in multi-scale CFD simulation.•Comprehensive efforts on developing accurate particle-scale models are discussed.•Interconnection between particle-scale models with adjacent scale models is shown.•Perspective on developing reliable and efficient particle-scale models is outlined.