CFD simulations of hydrodynamics of conical spouted bed nuclear fuel coaters

The ability of the two fluid method (TFM) to predict the gas-solid flow phenomenon in conical spouted beds operated with high density (6050 kg m^-3) particles simulating the nuclear fuel coating conditions is investigated. The effects of geometric and operational factors, such as conical angle and static bed height, are also assessed. The results show that TFM predicts the time-averaged bed pressure drop quite well. The qualitative variation of the particle velocity, solids volume fraction, and axial particle flux with axial height are captured by the simulations. The simulated trends observed in the investigation of the effects of static bed height and conical angle on the particle velocity, solids volume fraction, and axial particle flux agree well with those of the experimental measurements. CFD simulations of conical spouted beds operated with high density (6050 kg m^-3) particles are performed using two fluid method (TFM). The modelling capability of the TFM approach is investigated by comparing simulation and experimental results. Contours of the solid volume fraction from CFD simulation (a) and a snapshot from experiment (b) show similar gas-solid flow pattern.