The effect of interparticle forces on fluidization regimes in the magnetized fluidized beds

Abstract

This paper investigated the influence of interparticle forces on the quality of fluidization in a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB), where we can “artificially” create interparticle forces (Fattr) of any magnitude by applying an external magnetic field to ferromagnetic particles. A theoretical model was proposed which predicts the transition point from a homogeneous to a heterogeneous fluidization as a function of the magnitude of the interparticle force and other physical characteristics of both particles and fluids that are usually observed in fluidizationρp, ρf,μ, dp, e). The concept of the elastic wave velocity, Ue, and the continuity wave velocity, Ue, was introduced. In particular, the interparticle force manipulated by an externally applied magnetic field was taken into account in addition to a general consideration of a conventional fluidized bed. Bubbles form in a bed when the continuity wave velocity becomes faster than the elastic wave velocity. The simulation demonstrated the proposed model could predict the transition point of fluidization regime with reasonable accuracy.