CFD modelling of thermal conversion and packed bed compaction in biomass combustion

CFD codes are well equipped in the resolution of the gas phase combustion, however the solid phase modelling still needs to be developed. The aim of this work is to implement several submodels of thermal conversion of solid fuels and the interaction with the gas phase in a commercial CFD code. For this, a set of submodels taken from literature is proposed for simulating the combustion of solid biomass in packed beds. The modelling method implements several variables that represent the main parameters of the solid mass in the framework of a commercial CFD code. The transport equations of the solid phase are used to predict the transient evolution of the bed and the interaction with the gas phase within the bed and the area surrounding it. The radiative heat transfer is modelled by modifying the standard Discrete Ordinates model to consider the temperature difference between the solid and gas phases and the high absorptivity of the medium. A compaction model is introduced to account for the local shrinkage of the bed due to the collapse of regions weakened by their combustion. The results of the model are presented and discussed by the contrast of the model through the simulation of an experimental burner whose ignition rates, maximum temperatures, and drying, devolatilisation, and char thicknesses are known. The model shows a reasonably accuracy in the predictions of some variables as ignition rates, maximum temperatures and the bed height transient evolution. The comparison of the drying, devolatilisation, and char thicknesses for different air mass fluxes shows reasonably good tendencies even thought the values are excessively high. Compared with previous works done by the authors and by others, it can be seen that the introduction of a bed compaction submodel, as the one presented here, can help in the realistic estimation of the processes involved in packed be combustion of biomass and point to particle shrinkage and bed’s mechanics as an important process to be considered.