Analytical model of a gravitational separation process in a fluidized bed medium

Abstract

An analysis was made of a gravitational separation process in a fluidized bed medium. A mathematical model was developed to describe the separation process when a body is introduced into a fluidized bed with or without an initial velocity. The numerical analysis was carried out for the various parameters influencing the separation process. The model is based on the displacement-time relationship. All other relationships were calculated from this main relationship by individually chaning each parameter in the model. Experimental validation of the model was made for the displacement-time relationships under various conditions. The comparisons indicated satisfactory agreement of the predicted and experimental values. The relationship of predicted and experimental displacements can be expressed by linear regression with a coefficient of correlation of 0·881.