Characterization of the particle–wall frictional forces in pseudo-2D fluidized beds using DEM

• Published in: Chemical engineering science Vol. 116; pp. 136 - 143
• Main Authors: Hernández-Jiménez, F., Li, T., Cano-Pleite, E., Rogers, W., Acosta-Iborra, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 06.09.2014; Pergamon Press
• Subjects: Balancing; Chemical engineering; Coefficients; DEM; Discrete element method; Fluidized bed; Fluidized beds; Force balance; Friction; Pseudo-2D; Simulation; Wall friction; Walls; Wall friction; Force balance; Pseudo-2D; DEM; Fluidized bed
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2014.04.033

In this work a numerical study of a pseudo-2D gas fluidized bed is carried out using the MFIX-DEM code with a twofold aim. The first aim is to check whether the DEM code reproduces the overall experimental value of the frictional force of the walls on the particles in the pseudo-2D bed in bubbling regime, previously measured by Hernández-Jiménez et al. (2013) by means of a global force balance in the bed. The second aim of this work is to perform a local study of the wall–particle frictional forces, using the results of the DEM simulations. The results showed that the force balance proposed by Hernández-Jiménez et al. (2013) is consistent with the DEM simulations, corroborating that the particle–wall overall force can be considered equal to the velocity of the centre of mass times a global particle–wall interaction coefficient, c. Besides, it was found that the most probable value of the local coefficient c in the DEM simulations is similar to the global value experimentally obtained. As expected, the DEM results showed that this particle–wall interaction coefficient, c, increases with the particle–wall friction coefficient. Coincidence between simulations and experiments is maximum if an angle of internal friction very close to 30° is considered in the DEM particle–wall interaction. [Display omitted] •A numerical study of a pseudo-2D bed is carried out using the MFIX-DEM code.•The frictional force of the walls on the particles is studied.•The DEM results are consistent with previous experimental findings.•The frictional force is proportional to a particle–wall interaction coefficient.•The particle–wall interaction coefficient increases with the particle–wall friction.