Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.84, No.5, 527-531, 2006
Spouting enhancement by addition of small quantities of liquid to gas-spouted beds
The addition of liquid water to beds of polystyrene particles exceeding 3 mm in diameter enhanced spouting by causing a decrease in the minimum spouting velocity. While the degree of enhancement is quantitatively comparable to what we reported previously for fluidized beds of large light hydrophobic particles, the mechanism is quite different. Enhancement of spouting takes place because the liquid congregates at the spout-annulus interface, forming an effective nearly-impermeable draft tube which then increases the velocity of the gas up the spout.
Keywords:spouted beds;spouting enhancement;multiphase;particles;liquid addition;three-phase spouting