Statistical Analysis of Axial Flotsam Particle Mixing in Bubbling Fluidized Beds

Abstract

We present statistical analyses for highly resolved, short and long-time-scale experimental measurements of magnetic flotsam tracer particle motion in bubbling air-fluidized beds of Geldart Group B particles. The observed axial tracer trajectories appear to exhibit Weibull distributions over both short and long time scales and suggest possible analogies with other complex dynamic processes. Comparisons with other recently published experimental and simulated flotsam mixing patterns reveal patterns consistent with our measurements, implying that the observed patterns may be general features of bubbling fluidized beds.