Effect of a Baffle on Bubble Distribution in a Bubbling Fluidized Bed

In this study, the multi-phase Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid method (TFM) coupled with the kinetic theory of granular flow (KTGF) was used to investigate the hydrodynamics of particle flows (Geldart Group B) in a lab-scale bubbling fluidized bed. The goal was to improve the bubble flow behavior inside the fluidized bed to improve the distribution of an injected liquid, by increasing the flow of bubbles entering the spray jet cavity and, thus, reduce the formation of wet agglomerates. The effects of a baffle on both the injection level and the whole fluidized bed were studied. Different baffle geometries were also investigated. Adding a fluxtube to a baffle can improve the bubble flows and a long fluxtube works best at redirecting gas bubbles. Baffles tend to smooth out variations in the gas distribution caused by the non-uniform inlet gas distribution. A gas pocket appears under all the baffles.