Flow characteristics of two-dimensional spouted and spout-fluidized beds of particles

The flow characteristics of two dimensional spouted beds (2DSBs) were studied experimentally for various bed heights in a variety of air-particle systems. The effects of fluid-solid system properties, fluid flow rates, vessel dimensions, bed height, etc. on both fluid and solids flow characteristics were examined.A new approach to analyze the fluid-solid-wall interaction forces in packed and spouted beds was developed; it is based on the elastic-plastic deformations of the porous medium at failure.Equations for the design and simulation of the overall fluid-particle flow in a 2DSB were obtained on the basis of a solid stress analysis of the spout-annulus interface region. These include: (a) a correlation for the maximum spoutable bed height; (b) equations for the minimum spouting pressure drop and the minimum spouting velocity; and (c) an equation for the solids circulation rates near minimum spouting. These equations were verified by the experimental results obtained in this study as well as those from published literature.The effect of introduction of additional air in the annular region of a 2DSB on the bed aerodynamics and solids circulation rates was also examined. Fluid flow regimes were mapped as functions of the spouting flow rate, the annular flow rate and the bed height. A preliminary comparison between a two dimensional spouted bed and a two dimensional spout-fluidized beds was made on the basis of the results obtained