Experimental study on fluidization characteristics of vinegar residue in a vibrated fluidized bed

Abstract

• Vibro-fluidizing behaviors of vinegar residue are experimentally studied. • Inert Geldart-D plastic particles are used to improve the fluidization process. • Minimum fluidization velocities of binary particles are investigated. • Drying rate of vinegar residue increases due to the improving of fluidization. As a by-product in the vinegar brewing process, vinegar residue always has a high moisture content, which is detrimental to the storage and recycle process. The vibrated fluidized bed can be used to dry the vinegar residue. In present work, inert particles were added to a vibrated fluidized bed to improve the fluidization of vinegar residue. Experimental studies were carried out to investigate the fluidization behaviors of the binary mixtures. Flow pattern maps indicated that there was an upper limit to the vinegar residue mass concentration c w at which stable fluidization could be achieved. The minimum fluidization velocity u mf of the binary mixture increased as the vinegar residue mass concentration c w increased and decreased with the increase of the vibration intensity Λ . As increasing vibration intensity Λ or decreasing vinegar residue mass concentration c w , the drying rate of vinegar residue increased.