Minimum Fluidization Velocity of Fine Particles

Abstract

The minimum fluidization velocity is an important parameter in the design and operation of an industrial unit of fluidization. In the present work the minimum fluidization velocities of fine particles were obtained through two experimental methodologies. The first one is the classic procedure to determine that parameter analyzing the diagram of medium pressure drop in the bed in function of the superficial gas velocity, during the defluidization of the bed. And the second is the technique of identifying the minimum fluidization velocity interpreting the behavior of the normalized standard deviation of the pressure drop in the bed. A cylindrical bed of transparent acrylic was used in the process and the used particles were glass spheres, FCC and zinc powder. To compare the precision of the two methodologies some equations that predict the minimum fluidization velocity were used.