Bubble-Wake Model for Radial Velocity Profiles of Liquid and Solid Phases in Three-Phase Fluidized Beds

Abstract

The effects of particle size (0.4-2.3 mm), liquid (0.006-0.01 m/s), and gas (0.01-0.14 m/s) superficial velocities on liquid velocity in the radial direction have been determined by electric conductivity probes in a three-phase fluidized bed (0.254 m i.d. x 2.0 m height). The local liquid and solid velocity profiles in the radial direction can be determined from the proposed bubble-wake model. The velocities of liquid and solid phases can be expressed as a function of bubble velocity, phase holdups, and liquid velocity in the liquid fluidized region. Both the volume ratios of liquid and solid in the wake to the bubble phases decrease with an increase in the gas velocity but increase with an increase in the liquid velocity.