(between 10 and 30 cm). The results indicated that wall effects on the
minimum fluidization velocity can be neglected when the bed
thickness to particle size ratio is t/dpN 100. Nevertheless, when the
proposed correlation was applied to the results of other studies, the
correlation properly predicted the minimum fluidization velocity of
spherical particles in a 2D bed made of glass walls. Alternatively, when
the bed is made of plastic walls, electrostatic charge can have a
significant effect on Umf and the experimental results were not in
agreement with the proposed correlation. In addition, Jackson's model
for wall effects was fitted to the experimental fluidization–defluidization
curves. Although the parameters of the model can be adjusted to
a specific experiment, due to the one-dimensional assumptions of the
model, general conclusions on the determination of the minimum
fluidization in 2D fluidized beds cannot be made.
Notation
Latin letters
A Section of the bed perpendicular to the gas flow m2
Dh Hydraulic diameter ½m
dp Particle size ½m
F Constant in Eq. (4) ½Pa
H Bed height ½m
h Fixed bed height ½m
J Constant defined in Eq. (8) m−1
j Janssen coefficient ½−
t Bed thickness ½m
t* Critical bed thickness ½m
g Gravity constant 9:81m= s2
U Superficial gas velocity ½m= s
Umf Minimum superficial gas velocity ½m= s
uc Critical gas velocity ½m= s
ug Interstitial gas velocity ½m= s
υt Particle terminal velocity ½m= s
w Width of the bed ½m
x Horizontal coordinate
z Vertical coordinate, measured from the top of the bed
Greeks letters
ΔP Gas pressure drop due to the particles ΔP=ΔPs+p−ΔPs
½Pa
ΔPdist Gas pressure drop in the distributor ½Pa
ΔPg Gas pressure drop including wall effects (Eq. (7)) ½Pa
ΔPs Gas pressure drop in the empty system ½Pa
ΔPs+p Gas pressure drop in the system filled with particles ½Pa
ε Voidage in the bed ½−
μ Friction coefficient ½−
ρs Solid density kg =m3
σs Compressive yield stress of the particles ½Pa
ϕ Particle concentration ϕ=1−ε ½−
ϕp Particle sphericity −½
Subscripts
( )2D Magnitude refereed to the 2D bed
( )3D Magnitude refereed to the 3D bed
( )df Defluidization curve