(114d) Implementation and Verification of Population Balance Model Using FCMOM in CFD Codes

Successful computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of poly-disperse flows must include modeling of particulate processes, i.e. nucleation, growth, agglomeration and breakage. In addition, in poly-disperse reactive flows heterogeneous chemical reactions would affect the particulate phase property distribution and also hydrodynamics of the system (1). A computationally attractive way of computing the temporal and spatial changes in the particulate phase property distribution function is utilizing the population balance equation (PBE). However, Integro-differential nature of the PBE demands efficient numerical techniques for the solution of PBE and its implementation in CFD codes (2).

Finite size domain complete set of trial functions method of moments (FCMOM) is a novel solution method in the “method of moment” family for population balance equation developed by Strumendo and Arastoopour (3, 4). The method poses unique properties including fast convergence to the exact solution and providing the solution of PBE in terms of the moments of the distribution and the reconstructed distribution function itself, which makes it distinct from other available approaches (5, 6). In addition, the method has been validated against cases with available analytical solution and the comparisons were excellent (2, 3, 4). However, the applicability of the method in simulations of a complex system using multiphase CFD approach has not been studied. This work is an effort to provide a coupled CFD-PBE model based on FCMOM and probe its applicability for CFD simulations of poly-disperse flows.

The method was employed in CFD simulations of an oil-water emulsion flow in a backward facing step geometry including different particulate processes as proposed by Silva et al. (6). The results were numerically verified against the simulation results obtained by QMOM model.

References:

1- Abbasi, E., Arastoopour, H., “CFD Simulation of CO₂ Sorption in a Circulating Fluidized Bed Using Deactivation Kinetic Model”, Proceeding of the Tenth International Conference on Circulating Fluidized Beds and Fluidization Technology, CFB-10, edited by T. M. Knowlton, ECI, New York (2011): 736-743

2- Abbasi, E., Arastoopour, H., “Numerical Simulation of CO₂ Removal Process Using Solid Sorbent In a Fluidized Bed: A CFD-PBE Model”, 2011 AIChE Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, USA (2011).

3- Strumendo, M., Arastoopour, H., “Solution of PBE by MOM in Finite Size Domains”, Chemical Engineering Science, 63.10(2008): 2624-2640.

4- Strumendo M., Arastoopour H., “Solution of population balance equations by the FCMOM for in-homogeneous systems”, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 49.11 (2010): 5222–5230.

5- Marchisio, D. L.; Pikturna, J. T.; Fox, R. O.; Vigil, R. D., “Quadrature Method of Moments for Population-Balance Equations”, AIChE Journal., 49 (2003a): 1266.

6-   Silva, L.F.L.R. Damian, R.B., Lage, P.L.C., “Implementation and analysis of numerical solution of the population balance equation in CFD packages”, Computers & Chemical Engineering, 32- 12 (2008): 2933–2945