Fluidization of spherical versus elongated particles: Experimental investigation using magnetic particle tracking

Ivan Mema*, Kay A. Buist, J. A.M. Kuipers, Johan T. Padding

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)
106 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In biomass processing fluidized beds are used to process granular materials where particles typically possess elongated shapes. However, for simplicity, in computer simulations particles are often considered spherical, even though elongated particles experience more complex particle–particle interactions as well as different hydrodynamic forces. The exact effect of these more complex interactions in dense fluidized suspensions is still not well understood. In this study we use the magnetic particle tracking technique to compare the fluidization behavior of spherical particles to that of elongated particles. We found a considerable difference between fluidization behavior of spherical versus elongated particles in the time-averaged particle velocity field as well as in the time-averaged particle rotational velocity profile. Moreover, we studied the effect of fluid velocity and the particle's aspect ratio on the particle's preferred orientation in different parts of the bed, which provides new insight in the fluidization behavior of elongated particles.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere16895
Number of pages13
JournalAIChE Journal
Volume66
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • elongated particles
  • fluidization
  • particle orientation
  • particle velocity

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