Sequential Modeling of Heavy Liquid Fuel Combustion in a Fluidized Bed

A sequential model involving hydrodynamic and reaction sub‐models is developed to predict the fluidized‐bed reactor performance for the combustion of heavy liquid fuels. The hydrodynamic sub‐model is based on the modified two‐phase theory and the reaction sub‐model is adopted from the literature. Modeling is performed in a dense bed zone and two types of bubbles, namely distributor bubbles and jet bubbles are considered. Results of the model are presented in terms of combustion efficiency and exhaust emission concentrations. The effect of various factors on these two parameters is investigated. The model is validated with experimental data reported in literature and a close agreement is observed between calculated and experimental values. The proposed model can be applied for simulation of nonideal fluidized‐bed combustors using heavy liquid fuels in industrial process simulators. A simple sequential and multisection model combines several ideal reactors to provide a realistic model for combustion of heavy liquid fuel in a fluidized‐bed reactor. The model takes into account reactions and hydrodynamic phenomena occurring inside the fluidized bed and is applicable for simulation of nonideal fluidized‐bed combustors in industrial process simulators.