Review CFD simulation of fluidized bed reactors for polyolefin production – A review M.J.H. Khan a , M.A. Hussain a, *, Z. Mansourpour b , N. Mostoufi b , N.M. Ghasem c , E.C. Abdullah d a Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia b School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155/4563, Tehran, Iran c Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, UAE University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 17555, United Arab Emirates d Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), University Technology Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Semarak, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Contents 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 000 1.1. The process of fluidization and fluidized bed reactors .............................................................. 000 1.2. Scope of the review ......................................................................................... 000 2. Computational modeling of fluidized bed reactor ....................................................................... 000 2.1. Theoretical framework ....................................................................................... 000 2.1.1. The Eulerian model .................................................................................. 000 2.1.2. The mixture model .................................................................................. 000 2.1.3. The VOF model ..................................................................................... 000 2.1.4. Combined approaches ................................................................................ 000 2.2. CFD software packages ....................................................................................... 000 2.3. Coding and models for CFD ................................................................................... 000 2.4. Supporting tools for CFD software .............................................................................. 000 3. Aspects and mechanisms in fluidized bed reaction ...................................................................... 000 3.1. Modeling of hydrodynamic behavior of fluidized bed reactor ........................................................ 000 3.2. Fluid flow modeling ......................................................................................... 000 3.3. Mixing models ............................................................................................. 000 3.4. Bubble modeling ............................................................................................ 000 3.5. Elevated pressure processes ................................................................................... 000 3.6. CFD study on heat transfer phenomena and modeling of polyolefin reaction ............................................ 000 4. Electrostatic modeling of polymerization .............................................................................. 000 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry xxx (2014) xxx–xxx ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 15 November 2013 Accepted 25 January 2014 Available online xxx Keywords: CFD Fluidized bed Polyolefins Reactors ABSTRACT This literature survey focuses on the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in various aspects of the fluidized bed reactor. Although fluidized bed reactors are used in various industrial applications, this first-of-its-kind review highlights the use of CFD on polyolefin production. It is shown that CFD has been utilized for the following mechanisms of polymerization: governing of bubble formation, electrostatic charge effect, gas–solid flow behavior, particle distribution, solid–gas circulation pattern, bed expansion consequence, mixing and segregation, agglomeration and shear forces. Heat and mass transfer in the reactor modeling using CFD principles has also been taken under consideration. A number of softwares are available to interpret the data of the CFD simulation but only few softwares possess the analytical capability to interpret the complex flow behavior of fluidization. In this review, the popular softwares with their framework and application have been discussed. The advantages and feasibility of applying CFD to olefin polymerization in fluidized beds were deliberated and the prospect of future CFD applications was also discussed. ß 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +60 193706073; fax: +60 379675319. E-mail addresses: mohd_azlan@um.edu.my, drazlanhussain@gmail.com (M.A. Hussain). G Model JIEC-1886; No. of Pages 28 Please cite this article in press as: M.J.H. Khan, et al., J. Ind. Eng. Chem. (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2014.01.044 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jiec 1226-086X/$ – see front matter ß 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2014.01.044