(201b) Experimental Observations of Wet Bed Fluidization Hydrodynamics

Experimental studies on the effect of liquid presence in bubbling fluidize system have not received enough attention in the past. This study, considered the first of its kind, provides in-depth information on wet fluidization hydrodynamics using the non-intrusive techniques of Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) and pressure drop measurements. Particles belonging to Geldart groups B and D were fluidized in dry and wet conditions (using non-volatile silicon oil) in a conventional bubbling fluidized bed of 15 cm diameter and 150 cm high. The changes in the general flow structure and bubble characteristics were observed and quantified from the ECT measurement of solid fraction fluctuation and bed pressure drop. This study also demonstrates the great potential of the ECT system in wet fluidization studies, which could lead to improvement of many related industrial applications such as spray agglomeration, fluidisation of cohesive particles, drying and coating processes.