Axial liquid mixing in liquid—solid and gas—liquid—solid fluidized beds containing low density particles

Abstract

Axial dispersion coefficients in liquid—solid and gas—liquid—solid fluidized beds of low density particles were measured and analyzed. The particles used have densities and sizes, ranging respectively from 1.05 to 1.3 g/cm 3 and from 1.0 to 2.5 mm, comparable to those of bioparticles used in biological applications. The extent of axial liquid mixing in both systems is significantly less that that in beds of heavy particles, indicating that particle density effects on axial liquid mixing is important.