(497b) Elsevier Lifetime Achievement Award: Fluidization Centennial -- Reflection on the Past and Prospection in the Future

2021 marks the 100 anniversary of Fluidization and the time is right to reflect on the history and then to prospect into the future. What one can learn from the past and what we should expect in the future.

Since the inception, the “original” gas-solid “conventional” fluidized bed has been expanded, to liquid-solid and three-phase fluidization by changing the fluidizing medium, to circulating fluidization by changing (increasing) the fluidizing velocity beyond terminal velocity, to downflow fluidization by changing the fluid flow direction, and to inverse fluidization by changing the relative density of the fluid. Taking advantages of its large fluid-particle interfacial area, vigorous mixing, and excellent heat and mass transfer, fluidized bed processes have had major successes in the past 100 years, such as fluid catalytic cracking of crude oil, the combustion of coal, and many catalytic chemical reactions.

Recent developments have been pointing to intensifying and integrating fluidization processes, instituting new processes in other “non-conventional” process industries, comprehensive process modelling, and more in-depth fundamental studies to reveal the underlining principles fully utilizing the rapid developments of powerful measurement tools and computational capabilities. Utilizing fine group C particles and establishing micro flow fluidized bed reactors shall also come to play. New fluidization theories, especially those related to the above-mentioned developments, can be anticipated.