Numerical simulation of fluid dynamics in rare earth chloride solution in jet-flow pyrolysis reactor
(1. Key Laboratory of Ecological Utilization of Multi-metal Intergrown Ores, Ministry of Education,
School of Materials and Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 100819, China;
2. Northeast Petroleum University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuandao 066004, China)
School of Materials and Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 100819, China;
2. Northeast Petroleum University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuandao 066004, China)
Abstract: Rare earth oxide was prepared via direct pyrolysis of rare earth chloride solution. Based on this technique, a new-type jet-flow pyrolysis reactor was designed, and then the fluid dynamics (pressure and velocity) inside the reactor was numerically simulated using a computational fluid dynamics method. The self-produced pressure (p) and the fuel inlet velocity (v) satisfied a quadratic function, p=0.06v2+0.23v-4.49. To fully utilize the combustion-generated heat in pyrolysis of rare earth chloride, an appropriate external pressure p=v2+3v-4.27 should be imposed at the feed inlet. The 1.25- and 1.5-fold increase of feed inlet diameter resulted in decline of adsorption dynamic pressure, but the intake of rare earth chloride increased by more than 30% and 60%, respectively. The fluid flow in the reactor was affected by the feeding rate; the fluid flow peaked near the throat of venturi and gradually smoothed down at the jet-flow reactor’s terminal along with the sharp decline of feeding rate.
Key words: numerical simulation; rare earth chloride; jet-flow; pyrolysis reactor