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Volume 117
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Impact of internal geometries on granular flow regimes in a moving bed for chemical looping combustion: A mesoscopic force network perspective
Lei Pang a, Wei Dai b, Yali Shao b *
a Avic Jincheng Nanjing Engineering Institute of Aircraft Systems, Aviation Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Aero Electromechanical System Integration, Nanjing, 211106, China
b School of Energy Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210096, China
10.1016/j.partic.2026.07.015
Volume 117, October 2026, Pages 397-410
Received 1 May 2026, Revised 8 July 2026, Accepted 20 July 2026, Available online 28 July 2026, Version of Record 20 August 2026.
E-mail: yalishao@njnu.edu.cn
Highlights

• Internals affect macro-flow and meso-force networks in moving bed ARs.

• Grooved internals induce periodic stick-slip flow via cyclic force chains buckling.

• Cylindrical internals maintain continuous flow via reduced network anisotropy.

• Wider particle size distribution weakens overall force network integrity.


Abstract

Moving bed air reactors (AR) offer distinct advantages for chemical looping combustion, yet the formation of localized stagnant zones severely impedes efficient heat and mass transfer, frequently causing the sintering and agglomeration of oxygen carriers. While previous studies have examined contact mechanics in simplified geometries, the underlying mesoscopic mechanisms governing the complex flow regimes induced by reactor internals remain unresolved. In this study, Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations are employed to elucidate the multi-scale hydrodynamics in a moving bed AR by correlating macroscopic flow transitions with the spatiotemporal evolution of mesoscopic force chain networks. Macro-scale analysis reveals the formation of distinct stagnation, shear, and void zones around cylindrical internals, whereas shear and void zones are identified around grooved internals. The grooved internals induce a highly non-linear, periodic stick-slip dynamic, synchronized with the cyclical densification, high collimation, and subsequent abrupt yielding of strong force chains. In contrast, cylindrical internals facilitate a continuous flow regime by maintaining a force network with lower peak strength and reduced anisotropy, which effectively attenuates upstream flow instabilities. Furthermore, investigating the effect of particle size distribution (PSD) demonstrates that widening the PSD introduces geometric heterogeneity, disrupting the linear alignment of contact forces and weakening the overall network integrity. By explicitly correlating mesoscopic force topologies with macroscopic flow fields, this study provides a robust theoretical foundation for the structural optimization of moving bed ARs.


Graphical abstract
Keywords
Moving bed; Internals; Force chain network; DEM; Chemical looping combustion
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