CPFD will be speaking at the 24th Fluidized Bed Conversion Conference (FBC-24), May 8-11. Ali Akhavan, Senior Process Engineer – Fluidization, will present on “The role of GPU computing in the commercialization and scale-up of fluidized bed conversion processes”. To download the publication, please click here.
The role of GPU computing in the commercialization and scale-up of fluidized bed conversion processes – Presentation Summary
Simulations of fluidized bed systems are inherently complex, involving multiphase hydrodynamic, thermal, and chemical reaction mechanisms. GPU computing, originally used for computer graphics, is at the center of a parallel computing revolution that has occurred over the last decade. This paper explores how advances in GPU and multi-GPU computing have impacted 3D, transient simulations of fluidized bed conversion processes, resulting in simulations running up to 400x faster using GPUs in a single workstation compared with CPU-only performance. While speed enables faster solutions, and marginally faster time-to-market for new technologies, the real benefit is that previously intractable problems are now possible to solve with meaningful resolution (spatial, temporal, physical model complexity, chemical reaction mechanism detail).
Sample case studies using the commercial Barracuda Virtual Reactor® software are shown for applications including the gasification of municipal solid waste streams, chemical looping combustion, and fluidized catalytic cracking. Implications on the breadth of R&D activities, and the acceleration of technology development, commercialization, scale-up, and IP protection are discussed.
About FBC-24
Since the first conference in 1968 (Hueston Woods State Park, Oxford, Ohio), it has continued to be a successful forum for sharing knowledge and experience. The 24th conference will continue this tradition and provide an opportunity to share experiences and share the latest research and discoveries related to fluidized beds. There is a need for significant reductions in emissions of GHG and expanded use of biomass. Fluidized beds could play an important role in the transformation of the energy system, with efficient combustion and gasification processes in addition to new technologies, such as high-temperature looping cycles.
The conference is aimed at transferring academic knowledge to application and identifying new areas for research. It is an ideal gathering place for researchers, engineers, managers, plant operators, boiler manufacturers, component suppliers, academia and students around the world to network through extensive discussions.
The papers will be included in a conference proceeding (USB). The possibility to also publish papers in an online journal will also be investigated.
About Ali Akhavan
Ali is a Fluidization Engineer at CPFD Software with 17 years’ experience involving diverse applications including gasification, environmental, power plant, bio-refinery, and petrochemical. Fluidization is the commonality to Ali’s rich domestic and international experience, contributing toward his unique ability to integrate R&D into CPFD’s industry-focused engineering service offerings. Ali holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Monash University in Australia.