Sheng Jason Chew

Experimental and numerical simulation of discrete liquid flow in a packed bed

This paper presents a combined experimental and numerical method to simulate the liquid flow in a packed bed. Two types of the experiments, i.e. liquid percolation without gas flow and liquid flow with gas cross flow, were conducted using a three- or two-dimensional cold model, respectively. A mathematical model has been proposed for the numerical simulation of the liquid flow. This model was developed using a force balance approach combined with stochastic considerations, in which the liquid flow was treated as a discrete phase with stochastic dispersion based on the experimental observations. Accordingly, the interactions between liquid and the packed bed, and liquid and gas have been experimentally investigated and then were used to determine the model parameters involved in the model. The behavior of the liquid flow in packed beds can numerically be simulated using the proposed model. A reasonable agreement has been achieved between the model predictions and the experimental measurements.

Modelling the gas-liquid flow in an ironmaking blast furnace

A mathematical model is presented to describe the discrete flow of liquid within and below the blast furnace cohesive zone. The model is developed based on a force balance approach to describe the liquid flow and a stochastic treatment to take into account the complex packing structure. The interaction between gas and liquid flows has been included in the governing equations, so that the localised liquid flow in a packed bed can be modelled with or without gas flow. The validity is demonstrated by comparing model predictions and measurements obtained under different gas and/or liquid flow conditions. Application of the model to blast furnace is discussed with reference to the interaction between gas and liquid phases and the effect of cohesive zone shape.