Computational study of particle distribution development in a cold-flow laboratory scale downer reactor

The use of downer reactors (gas-solid co-current downward flow) in the Fluid Catalytic cracking (FCC) process for upgrading heavy crude oil into more valuable products has gradually become common last decades. This kind reactor is characterized by having homogeneous axial and radial flow structures, no back mixing, shorter residence times as compared with riser type. Although were introduced a long time ago, available information literature about multiphase hydrodynamic behavior at FCC industrial scale scarce. Therefore, it necessary to conduct experimental computational studies enhance understanding hydrodynamics two-phase flow. Computational Fluids Dynamics (CFD) software, Ansys Fluent, used study two-dimensional gas (air) solid (catalyst particle) section cold-flow circulation fluidized bed (CFB) system laboratory scale. implemented model validated comparing numerical results velocity volume fraction measurements carried out on CFB using fiber-optic probe laser velocimeter. According obtained different flux, development cannot only be estimated considering changes along reactor; also take account variations profiles can change even when are developed.