ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Three-phase fluidized beds have much significance since they offer excellent heat and mass transfer rates. Hence they are utilized in major industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals, and environmental and refining plants. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is an economical method by which to study the hydrodynamic properties of three-phase fluidized beds, because experimental and theoretical methods have their own limitations. A study of the hydrodynamics of a gas-liquid-solid (three-phase) fluidized bed has been made using ANSYS Fluent simulation software. The simulation has been carried out on a cylindrical column 1.8 m tall and 0.1 m diameter. Glass particles of diameter 2.18 mm and 3.05 mm were used for initial bed heights of 0.267 m and 0.367 m. The hydrodynamic properties, such as bed expansion, holdup of all three phases, and pressure drop across the column, were studied by varying inlet water velocity and inlet air velocity. Finally, comparison was made between the results obtained from the simulation and the experimental results. The CFD simulation result shows excellent agreement with the experimental results.
