PIV and Pressure Measurements for Fluidized Bed Model Validation: Building a Multi-Regime Reference Data Set

Fluidized beds are widely used in industry for various purposes, such as combustion, gasification, and catalysis. However, accurately modeling the complex fluid dynamics of fluidized beds remains a challenge, and model validation is critical for their reliable design and operation. In this study, we present a reference data set for bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) model validation based on particle image velocimetry (PIV) and pressure measurements.

The experiments were conducted in a lab-scale quasi-2D test rig comprising two different geometries. Two distinct particle size classes with polydisperse distributions were fluidized with air at different superficial velocities. Additional varied parameters include particle density and solids inventory. PIV was used to measure the velocity field of the particles, while pressure sensors at various locations record pressure data. The resulting data set includes pressure distribution and fluctuation, time-resolved velocity fields, and velocity frequency distributions for a range of operating conditions.

The data set will be made publicly available and is aimed to serve as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers to validate their BFB models under various operating conditions. It enables the evaluation of model accuracy for the bubbling fluidized bed regime and provides insight into the underlying hydrodynamics of the BFB system. In a next step to improve the data set bubble analysis will be conducted. Furthermore it is planned to expand the data set by extending the investigated regimes beyond bubbling regime to cover also turbulent regimes in an effort to build a true multi-regime validation data set.