Bed expansion ratio of mono-sized and binary mixtures in fluidized, spouted, and spout-fluid beds

ABSTRACT

Studies on bed expansion ratio were carried out in fluidized, spouted, and spout-fluid beds. A single column has been used to compare the characteristics of fluidized, spouted, and spout-fluid beds. Experiments were carried out using air and glass beads under fluidized, spouted, and spout-fluid bed conditions separately to study the effect of gas velocity, bed mass, and particle size on bed expansion ratio. Glass beads of different sizes (0.75, 1.2, 1.7, and 3.075 mm) have been used as solid bed material. Bed expansion ratio was determined for mono-size particles and binary mixtures (different diameter ratios and composition). It was found that the bed expansion ratio decreases with increase in bed mass for only spouting condition and spout-fluidization conditions. The bed expansion ratio increases with increase in bed mass for only fluidization condition.

KEYWORDS:

• Bed expansion ratio
• fluidization
• mixtures
• spout-fluidization
• spouting