Abstract
Gas–solid fluidization has a wide range of industrial applications like catalytic reactions, combustion, gasification, etc. In a number of these applications, there is particle size reduction during the operation leading to severe entrainment and limitation of operating velocity. The various problems associated with particles of different sizes or changing particles sizes could be overcome by adopting tapered beds in fluidization operation.
In the present investigation, the fluidization phenomenon in tapered beds has been critically assessed through experimental investigations using particles of different sizes and materials and wide range of apex angles of the vessels. The effect of particle size and apex angle on the fluidization behaviour is clearly brought out which has not been reported so far in literature. The importance of compressive force existing in tapered beds is highlighted.
In addition, correlations for all hydrodynamic characteristics, viz. critical fluidization velocity, minimum velocity for full fluidization, maximum velocity for defluidization, peak pressure drop, fluctuation ratio, compressive force, and hysteresis have been developed some of which are proposed for the first time.