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

• Published in: AIChE journal Vol. 66; no. 4
• Main Authors: Mema, Ivan, Buist, Kay A., Kuipers, J.A.M. (Hans), Padding, Johan T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-04-2020; American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subjects: Aspect ratio; Beds (process engineering); Casting; Computer simulation; elongated particles; Elongation; Fluidization; Fluidized beds; Granular materials; Mathematical models; Particle interactions; particle orientation; Particle tracking; particle velocity; Preferred orientation; Rotation; Velocity; Velocity distribution
• ISSN: 0001-1541; 1547-5905
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.16895

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.