Comparison of 2D and 3D numerical simulation of woody biomass combustion in fluidized bed reactor

Abstract Biomass, a sustainable energy source, can be utilized to produce chemicals, heat, and electricity. For this purpose, studies on the gasification of woody biomass in fluidized bed reactors are of interest. CFD simulations are commonly utilized for designing and optimizing processes. In computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions, 2D and 3D modeling have different advantages and disadvantages in terms of accuracy and computational power. 2D simulations offer quicker results and are adequate for acquiring the majority of pertinent parameters. Conversely, 3D methods are primarily required for meticulous analysis and optimization purposes. The current investigation aims to examine the gasification process in a fluidized bed through the use of CFD. This research involves performing 2D and 3D CFD simulations to examine the devolatilization characteristics of woody biomass in the fluidized bed reactor. The focus of the study is to evaluate the ability of 2D simulation studies to represent 3D simulation studies. The research investigated the behaviors of gas–solid flow modeling using ANSYS 16.0.