Characterization of the pneumatic behavior of a novel spouted bed apparatus with two adjustable gas inlets

Abstract- Recently the importance of spouted bed technology has significantly increased in the context of drying processes as well as granulation, agglomeration or coating processes. Par-ticulate systems concerning very fine or non spherical particles that are difficult to fluidize, of-ten cannot be treated in conventional fluidized beds. In contrast to those fluidized beds, the spouted bed technology with its specific flow structure offers the opportunity of stable fluidiza-tion under controlled conditions. Within this work the fluid dynamics of a novel spouted bed with two adjustable gas inlets is investigated. By analysis of gas fluctuation spectra by means of a fast Fourier transformation algorithm, different operation regimes are identified and depicted graphically. Furthermore, continuum CFD-modeling of the granular solid phase motion by means of an Euler/Euler approach and comparisons with experimental obtained velocity vector fields by means of particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements will be presented in this work