Similarities between gas-solid fluidization in the presence of interparticle forces at high temperature and induced by a polymer coating approach

Abstract

This study focuses on the hydrodynamic similarities of gas-solid fluidized beds influenced by the presence of interparticle forces (IPFs) at high temperature and induced by a polymer coating approach at near-ambient conditions. The level of IPFs was controlled through the formation of eutectics on the surface of base particles at high temperature. It was adjusted by the temperature of the inlet gas when adopting particles, coated with a thin layer of polymer having a low glass transition temperature, in a gas-solid fluidized bed in the case of polymer coating approach. Similarities were present between the results of the two parts of the study, i.e., in both cases, the minimum fluidization velocity and the bubble size growth rate with the superficial gas velocity in the bubbling regime increased with IPFs while the frequency of macro-structures and the average in-bed differential pressure drop in the bubbling regime decreased with IPFs. The polymer coating approach is therefore capable of simulating most of the conditions of a high temperature fluidized bed operated under the influence of IPFs at near-ambient conditions.