Numerical simulation of fluid dynamics in rare earth chloride solution in jet-flow pyrolysis reactor

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 =0.06 v 2 +0.23 v −4.49. To fully utilize the combustion-generated heat in pyrolysis of rare earth chloride, an appropriate external pressure p = v 2 +3 v −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.