ABSTRACT

M. Piskovsk
1
, J. Hjek
1
, L. Bbar
1
, P. Stehlk
1
, and J. Oral
2


1
Institute of Process and Environmental Engineering, Brno University of Technology,
Czech Republic
2
EVECO Brno, Ltd., Czech Republic

Design configuration of an industrial device may strongly influence pressure drop,
propensity to fouling, uniformity of flow distribution across heat exchange surfaces,
intensity of mixing (e.g. in reactors) and so on. Adding, changing or withdrawing a
shape element impacts the spatial distribution of flow field variables.

This contribution presents an application of the CFD approach for assessing
suitability of a Venturi nozzle, placed into the throat of a filter bag in a fabric filter. The
filter is employed for collection of particulate matter from flue gas in a municipal
waste incineration plant and it is necessary to clean it regularly. The cleaning is
performed periodically by pulse jet method. The analysis examined the influence of
the Venturi nozzle for quality of filter cleaning as well as pressure drop caused by the
nozzle during normal filter operation. A commercial CFD software system
FLUENT has been used for all the computations.

Assessment of Venturi nozzle for filter bag cleaning in fabric filters
using CFD modelling

Keywords: Bag Filter, CFD - Simulation, Gas Cleaning, Pulse Jet Cleaning, Venturi
Nozzle
1. Introduction

Many publications have investigated filter cleaning methods, but (according to [1])
most of them analysed only rigid filters so far. For the case investigated in the
present work, the following publications have been found useful:

o Laux [2], [3] inspected pressure profiles along ceramic filter element during the
pulse jet cleaning. Experiments where done under operating filter temperatures of
250 and 850 C. Computational model has been constructed in CFD code Fluent
3.02., k-e model of turbulence has been used. Only one filter element was simulated
(including surrounding area). Pressure drop across the filter element was assumed to
be stationary, permeability was known. Another assumption was that approximately
one third of surrounding gas is entrained i n the compressed air. Flow resistance was
governed by Darcys Law, turbulence in the porous region was not modelled. The
overpressure in the filter reached its maximum value in 50ms, which was in accord
with experimental measurement. Computational results were in very good
quantitative agreement with the measured data in the middle and on the bottom of
the filter. However, whereas the computed pressure maximum decreased along the
filter, the measured had an opposite tendency.

o Berbner [4] has discovered by measurements, that pressure wave, generated
during pulse jet cleaning, consist of a dynamic part, when pressure in the filter
element rapidly increases, and a consequent stationary flow into the filter. The results
show that the dust cake is detached during the dynamic part and the length of the
consequent stationary flow has small influence on the cleaning quality. This
conclusion was later confirmed by others [5].

A commercial CFD software system FLUENT 6.1 has been used for all computations
in this work. The outcome of the analysis is a comparison of cleaning cycle
performed with and without Venturi nozzle. Pressure drop of the Venturi nozzle
during normal filter operation was determined as well.

2. Equipment description
2.1. Arrangement of the filter
Cylindrical filter bags are installed vertically and
they are arranged into a matrix structure (see
figure1). Gas flow through the filter is controlled by
flue gas fans, located behind the filter outlet.
2.2. Filter regeneration
Dust cake growths during the standard filter
operation, and the pressure drop is increasing
accordingly. Upon reaching a maximum tolerable
pressure drop, the filter has to be cleaned. Above
every row of bags is located a pressure pipe with
holes, directed into the filter bags. During cleaning
cycle, compressed air is fed into the pipe.
Pressure gradient is higher than critical, but the
flow is limited to critical conditions (Mach number

Fig. 1
Arrangement of
filter bags in the
baghouse
M=1). Thus, medium is flowing out of the pipe holes and into the filter bags at the
speed of sound. Under the nozzles, pressure decreases and more gas is entrained
from the surrounding space above the cell plate. Shock wave proceeds along the bag
and stretches the walls, shaking down the dust cake. The entrained gas intensifies
this effect.

It is generally assumed that a Venturi nozzle located in the top end of a filter bag has
a positive impact on the amount of entrained gas. The task of this work has been to
determine how strong is this effect and whether the usage of nozzles is justified.

3. Determination of pressure drop coefficient of the Venturi nozzle
During normal filter operation, Venturi nozzle causes pressure drop. The position and
geometry of the analysed Venturi nozzle is however very specific, so that the
corresponding pressure drop coefficient could not been found in the literature. An
obvious approach to analyse this device is by application of sophisticated CFD
methods, which make possible modelling of the whole device without neglecting any
important influences.
3.1. Model construction
A 2D model of a single filter bag has been created by simplification of geometry of
the filter bag surroundings, assuming axial symmetry.

On figure 2 are displayed the types of boundary
conditions employed in the model. Conditions at the
inlet are defined by flue gas mass flow, temperature
and composition, hydraulic diameter of the inlet and
turbulence intensity. For description of the porous
jump (representing fabric of the filter) was used
Darcys law (1), which expresses linear dependence
of flow velocity u through the porous medium on
pressure loss ?P of the baffle.

=
h
P
k u (1)
The only unknown variable in equation (1) is
permeability of the medium k. In order to find its
value, it was necessary to use operation data (?P =
800 Pa); flue gas dynamic viscosity has been
determined by application of the theorem of
corresponding states; velocity u is given by the ratio of flue gas flow rate and total
filter area; the thickness h of the porous baffle has been arbitrarily set equal to 0.01m.

Conditions at the outlet are defined by relative pressure p
g
= -1500Pa, which is
related to ambient (atmospheric) pressure equal to 99kPa.

The flowing fluid is flue gas, the composition of which may be determined from
balance of chemical reactions occurring during waste combustion. For individual flue
gas species have been introduced the following relationships:
o Densities are calculated from state equation of ideal gas
o Specific heats are calculated from polynomials of the FLUENT database
o Dynamic viscosities are computed from the kinetic theory of gases

porous
jump
pressure
outlet
mass
flow
inlet
axis
wall
wall

Fig. 2 Schematic display of the
2D model of normal operation
3.2. Computational approach
Solution has been sought for a time-independent flow. Turbulence has been
modelled by the RNG k-e model [6]. The result of the iterative calculation is a
solution representing distribution of physical variables in the modelled domain.

Pressure drop caused by the Venturi nozzle may be determined by measuring
pressures before and after installation of the nozzle [7]. If ? p is pressure difference,
measured between two sample points (located in front and beyond the nozzle) before
installing the nozzle and ? p is the pressure difference, measured between the same
two sample points after installing the nozzle, then pressure drop ? p, caused by the
nozzle, is given by equation (2):
p p p = (2)
Considering these facts, a second
model has been created, almost
identical with the first, displayed in
figure 2. The only difference in that
the second model does not contain
the Venturi nozzle. Also this time
was obtained converged solution.
Pressure along filter bag axis in the
two alternative simulations is shown
in figure 3. This way, pressure drop
of the Venturi nozzle during normal
filter operation has been found to be
? p = 52Pa.

4. Modelling of unsteady flow during pulse cleaning cycle
4.1. Model construction
For the simulation was again constructed
axially symmetrical 2D model, based on
the same simplifying assumption as in
section 3.1. Diameter of the outer
cylindrical wall has been increased 10
times, as required by the ratio of volume of
a filter section, cleaned in one cycle, to the
volume of the whole filter (corresponding to
simultaneous cleaning of all filter bags).
Geometry of the employed model is
schematically displayed in figure 4. The
operating conditions are given by pressure
p=99kPa a temperature T=483K (210C).
Conditions at the inlet are given by total
pressure of the cleaning air p
0
=250kPa
(i.e. 151kPa gauge pressure), its temperature T=300K (27C), hydraulic diameter of
the inlet and turbulence intensity. For description of the porous jump, representing
filter fabric was used the same equation (1) as in section 3.1, with the same value of
permeability k.

Flow direction
without Venruri
with Venturi
position of Venturi
Distance in axis direction (m)
? p
? p
? p

Fig. 3 Pressure along filter bag axis

pressure
inlet
wall
Monitor 1
Monitor 2

wall
wall
wall
porous
jump
axis

Fig. 4 Schematic display of the 2D model of
the fabric filter pulse jet clearing
4.2. Computational approach
As the model includes unsteady effects, its setup is inherently more complicated than
in section 3. The goal here is to predict the course of the pulse jet cleaning cycle,
which is comprised of the following phases:
o Fast increase of the inlet pressure to the required value
o Keeping of the required inlet total pressure (250kPa) during 60ms
o Cutting off the compressed air input
o Equalisation of pressure in the whole filter
The unsteady simulation has been performed with time step size of 1ms. Before start
of the computation, the initial conditions in the filter are set to reflect the real state in
the filter.

When the inlet gauge pressure was set directly to the prescribed value of 151kPa
with RNG k-e turbulence model, the simulation diverged. The step change of
pressure, at the domain inlet was too severe. Therefore, the computation was
conditioned in first time step by switching off the turbulence model and decreasing
the inlet gauge pressure down to 25kP. This provided a smooth start-up of the
simulation.

After setting the inlet air pressure back to 151kPa, a large circulation zone has been
generated in the pressure pipe, reaching back to the domain inlet. This circulation
zone caused backflow on the inlet boundary and the simulation again diverged.
Decreasing the inlet pressure has proved efficient in decreasing the size of the
circulation zone. In order to keep the simulation realistic, a critical flow must be
maintained at the orifice of the pressure pipe. This is ensured, when the inlet
pressure is higher than critical pressure under the given conditions (88kPa).
Therefore, inlet pressure has been set to 100kPa, without compromising accuracy of
the simulation results.

For the first time step was thus the inlet gauge pressure set to 25kPa and the time
step was solved with laminar solver. In the following 60 time steps the inlet gauge
pressure has been kept at 100kPa with RNG k-e turbulence model active. After that
the inlet condition has been changed from pressure inlet to wall, thus simulating
interruption of the compressed air supply. In the following time steps, pressure in the
system has gradually equalised. Hundred and forty more time steps one millisecond
long were necessary for equalising the pressure in the filter.
4.3. Effect of Venturi nozzle on pulse jet cleaning
As mentioned already at the
beginning, it was expected that the
Venturi nozzle amplifies gas
entrainment from the upper
compartment into the filter bag.
The goal was to quantify this effect
and therefore provide justification
of the nozzle usage.

To this purpose, mass flow rates
through reference cross-sections
marked Monitor1 and Monitor2

Fig. 5 Mass flow rates at two locations during the cycle
have been monitored throughout the simulation (see figure 5). Location of the
reference cross-sections is shown in figure 4. In order to provide evaluation of
performance increase thanks to the Venturi nozzle, a second simulation has been
performed without the Venturi.

The development of mass flow rate during the cleaning cycle is shown at figure 5.
The graph shows about three-fold increase of mass flow rate due to the Venturi
nozzle in the first moments of the cycle. In the alternative without the nozzle is gas
entrainment into the filter bag almost negligible.

After opening of the compressed air inlet, a pressure wave starts to propagate down
through the filter bag. The gauge pressure of the wave is between 1000 and 1500Pa.
After fifteen milliseconds the wave reaches bottom of the filter bag and is reflected.
After another fifteen milliseconds the pressure wave returns back to the top part of
the filter bag. About twenty milliseconds from the start of the cleaning cycle, the
amount of gas entrained from the upper compartment into the bag drops down due to
pressure decrease in the compartment. At time t=60ms is shut down the supply of
compressed air. Its remainder contained in the pressure pipe still expands from the
orifice. Pressure in the compartment above the filter bags is now lower than in the
lower part below the cell plate and thus the gas changes at about time t=80ms its
direction and flows back through the filter bag and above the cell plate (in the
alternative with the nozzle). Pressure is gradually equalised in the whole system.

Pressure was monitored during the whole pulse (60ms) at five locatrions along the
axis of the filter bag. The individual monitoring locations have been marked as
Monitor3 to Monitor7. This has been performed for both alternatives (with and
without the Venturi nozzle) so that it would be possible to make a comparison.

Results of the computation are summarised in figure 6. Pressure is the gauge
pressure, relative to the operating pressure. From the graphs it may be observed that
the pressure wave during the cleani ng cycle is composed of a dynamic part with fast
pressure rise inside of the filter bag, and of a following relatively steady flow into the
bag. This observation corresponds well with the description of cleaning cycle
provided in the literature [6] and [7], as noted in part 0. Comparison of the results
produced for the alternative with the nozzle and without it shows that the profiles are
rather similar, but the values of maximum gauge pressures differ by a factor of 3.

5. Conclusions

From the data obtained from the CFD modelling it may be concluded that the Venturi
nozzle has a significant influence on quality of the filter cleaning. By influencing gas
entrainment from the area above the cell plate, gas flow into the filter bag increases
three times. Intensity of pressure wave in the filter bag is significantly increased. The
maximum gauge pressure values increase about three times after installation of the
Venturi nozzle, which is an important difference for quality of the cleaning. A negative
consequence of installation of the Venturi nozzle could be a higher pressure drop of
the filter. However, it has been determined that pressure drop of the nozzle during
normal operation is about 50Pa, which is a fraction of the total filter pressure drop
(mean value about 800Pa) and does not entail an increase of operati ng costs.

It may thus be concluded with confidence that the application of Venturi nozzle is
justified and may be recommended for improving of filter bag cleaning.

Jet cleaning with Venturi nozzle Jet cleaning without Venturi nozzle


Fig. 6 Comparison of the pressure wave along filter length
References:

[1] Schildermans I., Baeyens J. and Smolders K.: Pulse jet cleaning of rigid filters:
a literature review and introduction to process modelling, Filtration &
Separation, Vol. 41, Issue 5, pp. 26-33, June 2004

[2] Laux S.: Drukstossabreinigung keramischer filterelemente zur
Heissgasfiltration, Dissertation, RWTH Aachen, Germany, 1993 (in German)

[3] Laux S., Giernoth B., Bulak H. and Renz U.: Aspects of pulse-jet clearing filter
of ceramic filter elements, in Gas Cleaning at High Temperatures, R Clift &
J.P.K. Sevile (eds), Blackie Academic & Professional, Glasgow, UK, pp.203-
224, 1993

[4] Berbner S.: Zur Drukstobregenierung keramischer filterelemente bei der
Heibgasreinigung. Dissertation, Fakultt fr Chemieingenieurwesen der
Universitt Fridericiana zu Karlsruhe, Germany, 1995 (in German)

[5] Kanaoka C., Amornkitbamrung M. and Kishima T.: Cleaning mechanism of
dust from ceramic filter element, in High Temperature Gas Cleaning, Dittler A.,
Hemmer G. & Kasper G. (eds) Karlsruhe, Germany, Vol. 2, pp. 142-152, 1999

[6] FLUENT 6.1.22, Users Guide, Fluent Inc., Lebanon, 2003.

[7] CSN ISO 5167-1: Meren prutoku tekutin pomoc snmacu diferencnho tlaku,
cst 1: Clony, dzy a Venturiho trubice vloen do zcela vyplnenho potrub
kruhovho prurezu, October 1993. (in Czech)