Hydrodynamic simulations of non-spherical particle dispersions in downer reactor with second-order moment turbulence model

Abstract A second-order moment kinetic frictional stress model coupled with a non-spherical drag coefficient between particle and gas phases is proposed to model the hydrodynamics of non-spherical particle flow in downer reactor. The heterogeneous dispersions of particle and the Reynolds stresses between gas and particle are numerically simulated. Results show that predictions are in good agreement with the experimental data. An increase in irregular shape degree leads to the enlargement for the dense ring of particle volume fraction, the particle velocity and its fluctuation, the normal and shear stress, and the granular temperature, as well as the encouragement of granular temperature peaks towards wall region. Strongly heterogeneous characteristics are found at the second acceleration region, which the amplitudes of normal and shear stresses are approximately twice larger than those of fully development flow. Higher heterogeneous indexes correspond to the homogeneous flow, and its larger gradient indicates that hydrodynamics is transiting from homogenous to heterogenous flow. Frequency of article collisions is on the order of 102.