A Tabulation-Based Numerical Model for the Combustion of Thermally Thick Particles in Fixed-Bed Reactors
Mousavi, Seyed Morteza LU ; Fatehi, Hesameddin LU
and Bai, Xue Song
LU
(2026)
In Combustion Science and Technology
- Abstract
In fixed-bed reactors, the use of large particles in thermally thick regimes is common, which underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of intraparticle processes. However, integrating detailed particle models into fixed-bed simulations is computationally expensive. This study introduces a tabulation method for biomass conversion’s drying and pyrolysis stages, where significant mass exchange to the gas phase occurs. The particle mass, particle surface temperature, and heat transfer rate to the particle are selected as control parameters to tabulate the particle conversion rate. The drying and pyrolysis of particles are pre-simulated under various conditions, including different moisture and ash content, and all the relevant... (More)
In fixed-bed reactors, the use of large particles in thermally thick regimes is common, which underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of intraparticle processes. However, integrating detailed particle models into fixed-bed simulations is computationally expensive. This study introduces a tabulation method for biomass conversion’s drying and pyrolysis stages, where significant mass exchange to the gas phase occurs. The particle mass, particle surface temperature, and heat transfer rate to the particle are selected as control parameters to tabulate the particle conversion rate. The drying and pyrolysis of particles are pre-simulated under various conditions, including different moisture and ash content, and all the relevant variables are stored in tables as a function of the controlling parameters. This approach replaces the detailed, computation-heavy particle model in the bed simulation, enhancing computational efficiency. The method’s validity is confirmed by comparing stacked particle conversion results against those from a detailed model. The tabulation method can achieve a speed improvement of two to three orders of magnitude compared to the detailed particle model, a significant advantage when modeling a bed with a substantial number of particles. Additionally, the bed model is integrated with a CFD solver, and a set of tar-cracking reactions are proposed to model a batch reactor’s bed and freeboard. Model predictions align reasonably with experimental data, including maximum temperature and flame propagation speed.
(Less)
- author
- Mousavi, Seyed Morteza
LU
; Fatehi, Hesameddin
LU
and Bai, Xue Song
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- keywords
- Biomass combustion, fixed bed reactor, tabulation approach, thermally thick particles
- in
- Combustion Science and Technology
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105033253384
- ISSN
- 0010-2202
- DOI
- 10.1080/00102202.2026.2642858
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
- id
- 0f8da25b-4cf5-45f7-8e24-37f9675ff0f5
- date added to LUP
- 2026-05-12 14:51:11
- date last changed
- 2026-05-12 14:52:06
@article{0f8da25b-4cf5-45f7-8e24-37f9675ff0f5,
abstract = {{<p>In fixed-bed reactors, the use of large particles in thermally thick regimes is common, which underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of intraparticle processes. However, integrating detailed particle models into fixed-bed simulations is computationally expensive. This study introduces a tabulation method for biomass conversion’s drying and pyrolysis stages, where significant mass exchange to the gas phase occurs. The particle mass, particle surface temperature, and heat transfer rate to the particle are selected as control parameters to tabulate the particle conversion rate. The drying and pyrolysis of particles are pre-simulated under various conditions, including different moisture and ash content, and all the relevant variables are stored in tables as a function of the controlling parameters. This approach replaces the detailed, computation-heavy particle model in the bed simulation, enhancing computational efficiency. The method’s validity is confirmed by comparing stacked particle conversion results against those from a detailed model. The tabulation method can achieve a speed improvement of two to three orders of magnitude compared to the detailed particle model, a significant advantage when modeling a bed with a substantial number of particles. Additionally, the bed model is integrated with a CFD solver, and a set of tar-cracking reactions are proposed to model a batch reactor’s bed and freeboard. Model predictions align reasonably with experimental data, including maximum temperature and flame propagation speed.</p>}},
author = {{Mousavi, Seyed Morteza and Fatehi, Hesameddin and Bai, Xue Song}},
issn = {{0010-2202}},
keywords = {{Biomass combustion; fixed bed reactor; tabulation approach; thermally thick particles}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Combustion Science and Technology}},
title = {{A Tabulation-Based Numerical Model for the Combustion of Thermally Thick Particles in Fixed-Bed Reactors}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00102202.2026.2642858}},
doi = {{10.1080/00102202.2026.2642858}},
year = {{2026}},
}