A Novel Approach to Construct Equivalent Reactor Network (ERN) Models for a CFB Riser

There always exists a conflict between model accuracy and computational speed for non-ideal reactors when modeling a chemical process. In view of this, a novel, easy to use, approach to construct compartment or equivalent ideal-reactor network (ERN) models is proposed for a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) riser based on its signal time-series. The pressure drop time-series is sampled during the Multi-Phase Particle-in-Cell (MP-PIC) simulation of the CFB riser. Detailed procedures for mapping the time-series to a directed weighted complex network (DWCN) and the determination of model parameters are presented. Effects of the sampling frequency and division scheme for the time-series on compartment/ERN models are also investigated. It is believed that the proposed methodology based on the time-series can be generalized to develop ERN models for non-ideal flows in the fluidization system. It is also expected that ERN models can be readily integrated into a process simulator, e.g., Aspen Plus, to resolve the conflict between model accuracy and computational speed in process simulation, on-line analysis and real-time optimization.