The influence of perforated baffles on the mixing and segregation of a binary group B mixture in a gas–solid fluidized bed

Abstract

This paper presents a method of influencing the axial mixing of particles and promoting segregation in fluidized beds without otherwise changing the character of the bed substantially (at least at low to moderate gas velocities). The method is based on the introduction in the bed of horizontal screen-like baffles with a relatively large free area. It will be shown that such baffles promote the particle segregation significantly, producing a layer of almost pure heavy/large particles in a binary mixture which would be well mixed when fluidized in a conventional bed at the same velocity. The effect of three different types of baffles, of the number of baffles and of the fluidization velocity on the quality of separation is examined. A physical reason for the demixing effect is suggested.