Bed Agglomeration Research Articles

Effect of Calcium Addition on Fluidized Bed Agglomeration Caused by Potassium Phosphates

Effect of Calcium Addition on Fluidized Bed Agglomeration Caused by Potassium Phosphates

Employing a multi-resonance microwave sensor for in-line moisture monitoring of fluidized bed agglomeration

Amorphous substances are relatively common in food industry and their characteristics depend highly on the moisture content. Process parameters are adjusted based on online measurements to control the product quality of the agglomerates. This leads to two major challenges: precise moisture content measurements of amorphous particles at (i) different temperatures and for (ii) a wide moisture content range.In this study two workflows (inline fluidized bed and conditioned fixed bed) calibration of microwave sensors are compared and it is shown that for fluidized beds inline calibration is necessary to achieve accurate moisture measurements. The application of the novel microwave sensor MW 4200 working at resonance frequencies of 2.3 and 5.6 GHz is described. The temperature influence on the measurement is investigated with measurements of a fixed particle bed. Rapid, reliable in-process moisture control at a wide range of moisture contents and temperatures for agglomeration in fluidized beds, with a mean relative accuracy of 82 %, is achieved. This technology improves productivity and precision in industrial operations, minimizes waste and optimizes energy usage.

Influence of air staging variation on agglomeration behavior of biomass fuels in fluidized bed technology

The fluidized bed system is an effective approach widely accepted and commonly used for the thermochemical conversion of solid fuel such as biomass and agricultural residue. In most instances, there are some demerits usually associated with this approach such as development of eutectic mass, increased process of melting and bed agglomeration. This work was carried out to study the behavior of five readily available biomass fuels (Palm tree fronds, corn straw, plantain peels, sugarcane bagasse and domestic woods) in a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) combustor. Characterization of the bed materials and ash samples were done using SEM-EDX, XRF and XRD. The effect of physical factors on the composition of obtained ash and particles from the bed was assessed. Also, the interaction between the fuel ash and bed particle was evaluated to reveal its influence on bed materials morphology. The results obtained revealed a combustion efficiency that varies between 96.2 to 99.6 % with the highest value obtained for sugarcane bagasse. The corn straw has the highest Potassium (K) content, while the domestic wood ash contained the highest Calcium (Ca) content. The XRF analysis revealed the conversion of the major potassium content of the corn straw to K2O. Meanwhile, bed agglomeration was absent when combustion was carried out with no staging-air as well as with staging air, despite high temperature above 800 oC used. Data obtained from this work revealed that agglomeration effect will be minimal issue when carrying out fluidized bed combustion of the selected biomass.

Influence of multi-factor interactions on particle growth during top-spray fluidized bed agglomeration

Considering the strong dependence of agglomerate characteristics on various operating parameters, this study employs the control variable methodology (CVM) and response surface methodology (RSM) to investigate the influence of multi-factor interactions on particle growth during top-spray fluidized bed agglomeration. First, CVM is conducted to assess the effects of individual operating parameters on the agglomerate properties, such as mean particle size, relative width, and sphericity. Then, the interactive relationship between these input variables and the quality attributes of the process is investigated using RSM. The results show that the mean particle size increases with the increase of binder viscosity and spray rate, while it decreases with the increase of fluidization gas velocity and inlet gas temperature. The relative width of the particle size distribution increases with the spray rate, binder viscosity, and fluidization gas velocity, and hardly changes with the inlet gas temperature. The mean particle size is more sensitive to the binder spray rate at a lower level of fluidization gas velocity or a higher level of inlet gas temperature. The fluidization gas velocity corresponding to the maximum D50 changes when the binder viscosity and binder spray rate are at different levels.

Control of spout deflection in dry and wet spouted beds using vibration

Spout deflection is a common instability phenomenon observed in spouted beds which decreases control over the spouted bed and worsens particle recirculation efficiency. Prior work has mitigated spout deflection using electromagnetic fields, inlet gas treatment, and baffles. Here, we demonstrate experimentally that spout deflection can be mitigated through the use of vertical vibration, which can be applied in circumstances which prior methods may not be possible. Spout deflection was mitigated for cases of non-uniform gas flow in a dry spouted bed and particle agglomeration in a wet spouted bed. Furthermore, the particle recirculation rate was found to increase significantly with increasing vibration strength in a wet spouted bed. Thus, we show that vertical vibration can significantly enhance the spout stability in both dry and wet spouted beds, without compromising recirculation rate.

The Impact of Aluminosilicate Additives upon the Chlorine Distribution and Melting Behavior of Poultry Litter Ash

The use of poultry litter (PL) as a sustainable fuel is gaining more attention due to its wide availability and carbon neutrality. However, this type of feedstock is rich in ash and typically contains a high concentration of chlorine (Cl) and alkali elements (Na, K). Therefore, it is likely to cause unwanted issues during combustion and co-combustion, such as chlorine-induced corrosion, ash deposition, and bed agglomeration. In this study, for the first time, the influence of aluminosilicate additives on the above problems of poultry litter was investigated. Three aluminosilicate minerals are under consideration: kaolin, halloysite, and bentonite. Their influence on the chemical composition and meting tendencies of two poultry litter ashes are determined. The investigated ashes, PL1 and PL2, are characterized by different chlorine contents of 6.38% and 0.42%, respectively. The results show that in the case of the chlorine-rich PL1 ash, the additives reduced the chlorine content by up to 45%, resulting in a 3.93% of chlorine in the case of halloysite, 3.48% in the case of kaolin, and 4.25% in the case of bentonite. The additives also positively influenced the shrinkage starting temperature and the deformation temperature of the PL1 ash.

Agglomeration behaviour of various biomass fuels under different air staging conditions in fluidised bed technology for renewable energy applications

The most common technology for thermochemical conversion of solid fuel through the process of gasification, such as coal, varieties of residues from biomass and agriculture are the bubbling fluidised bed or fluidised bed systems. However, there are some disadvantages within these systems including the formation of eutectic mixtures, increased process of melting and bed agglomeration. Hence, the current study aimed to evaluate the agglomeration behaviour of various biomass fuels. Characteristics of five biomass fuels (miscanthus, peanut, straw, domestic wood and industrial wood) in a bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) combustor were studied by SEM-EDX, XRD and XRF analysis of bed materials and ash samples. The influence of bed temperatures on the fuel ash composition and bed particles was evaluated, as well as fuel ash components, their interaction with the particles from the bed sand and morphology of the bed material. The combustion efficiency ranged from 95.5 to 99.5% with the highest value obtained for miscanthus under SA conditions. The peanut and straw had the highest K content, whereas the industrial wood ash contained the highest Ca content compared to other biomasses. The XRF results showed that most of the potassium (K) from the wheat straw biomass was converted to K2O with 19%. No bed agglomeration was noticed without staging-air (WSA) and with staging-air (SA) combustion conditions, even with temperatures up to 850 °C during the testing period. Overall obtained results demonstrated that agglomeration is unlikely expected to be a major problem during fluidised bed combustion of tested biomass fuels.

Effects of the alkali metal oxides and bed material compositions on agglomeration phenomena in CFB boiler

Circulating fluidized bed boiler is environmentally friendly technology in power generation. However, agglomeration related operational standard has not been established yet. As a basis of establishing standard, the fixed bed agglomeration mechanism of bed inventory was investigated. The melting temperature reduction occurred with induced change of alkali metal compositions. The melting temperature reduction result in viscous surface on particles and ease of being agglomerated. The temperature reduction appeared more clearly in silica sand than bottom ash. This was caused by the high SiO2 composition of the sand and alkali silica reaction occurred because activated alkali compositions were reacted with SiO2 forming alkali silicates. Further analyses of agglomerates produced in bubbling fluidized bed reactor were conducted. The expected agglomeration effect has similar trend with melting temperature reduction. And the agglomeration effect appeared more in silica sand because of high SiO2 composition and sodium was more effective in forming agglomerates than potassium. Therefore, bottom ash can replace silica sand as bed material in CFB boiler. And sodium composition must be managed more strictly than potassium composition.

Alkali desorption from ilmenite oxygen carrier particles used in biomass combustion

Oxygen-carrying fluidized bed materials are increasingly used in novel technologies for carbon capture and storage, and to improve the efficiency of fuel conversion processes. Potassium- and sodium-containing compounds are released during biomass combustion and may have both negative and positive effects on conversion processes. Ilmenite is an important oxygen carrier material with the ability to capture alkali in the form of titanates. This is a desirable property since it may reduce detrimental alkali effects including fouling, corrosion, and fluidized bed agglomeration. This study investigates the interactions of alkali-containing compounds with ilmenite particles previously used in an industrial scale (115 MWth) oxygen carrier aided combustion system. The ilmenite samples were exposed to temperatures up to 1000 °C under inert and oxidizing conditions while the alkali release kinetics were characterized using online alkali monitoring. Alkali desorption occurs between 630 and 800 °C, which is attributed to loosely bound alkali at or near the surface of the particles. Extensive alkali release is observed above 900 °C and proceeds during extended time periods at 1000 °C. The release above 900 °C is more pronounced under oxidizing conditions and approximately 9.1 and 3.2 wt% of the alkali content is emitted from the ilmenite samples in high and low oxygen activity, respectively. Detailed material analyses using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were conducted before and after temperature treatment, which revealed that the concentrations of potassium, sodium and chlorine decrease at the outermost surface of the ilmenite particles during temperature treatment, and Cl is depleted to a deeper level in oxidizing conditions compared to inert. The implications for ilmenite-ash interactions, oxygen carrier aided combustion and chemical looping systems are discussed.

Optimization of product characteristics of porous carbon agglomerates using a design of experiments in fluidized bed agglomeration

Spraying parameters during particle agglomeration processes can affect the agglomeration kinetics and particle growth. This study was conducted to better understand the influence of the spraying parameters in a fluidized bed wet agglomeration process, and the influence on the stability characteristics of carbon tablets. A formulation based on fine carbon and peroxide powder, as well as carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder, was used to produce agglomerates in a first production step. Thereafter in a second production step carbon tablets with a high porosity were molded for the customer goods industry. The optimization of the compressive strength of these carbon tablets was the goal of the trials. Carbon agglomerates were produced with a laboratory scale granulator called “ProCell” and were compressed with a five-cavity mechanical press. The screening of the agglomeration process parameters and their influence on the agglomerates quality, as well as the performance characteristics of the carbon tablets, were investigated using a multilevel factorial design. The experimental runs were done by varying atomized air pressure and feed rate of the fluid. This was determined by the design model. The findings of the statistical trials showed that low atomized air pressure and a low feed rate lead to a higher tablet compressive strength.

The effect of the fluidized bed agglomeration process on the powder properties of black carrot juice powders

AbstractThis study aims to apply fluidized bed agglomeration process performed at 60°C and 1.6 m/s as air temperature and velocity, to improve the powder properties of the black carrot juice powders obtained by spray drying at the inlet and outlet air temperatures of 160 and 100°C, respectively. The binders maltodextrin, gum arabic, whey protein isolate and water were added to the powders at 1:0.1, and 1:0.2 powder/binder solution (BS) ratios. The agglomerates have higher moisture content (11.35%–12.88%, wet basis) and water activity (0.256–0.379) values than the powders (9.18 ± 0.03% and 0.25 ± 0.00, respectively). While the angle of repose value of black carrot juice agglomerates decreased compared to powders, the porosity values (54.17%–66.87%) and the hygroscopic properties were improved. The friability values for the agglomerates were 37.21%–77.04%. The agglomeration process improved the microstructure, glass transition temperature and particle size distribution as determined with scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimeter, and laser diffraction method analysis.Practical applicationsBlack carrot is a vegetable with high nutritional value and its consumption is limited to a certain season. For this reason, the production of the powders of vegetable juices and having the agglomerated form of them, an important improvement will be achieved in the production of healthy and easy to use foods for children and adults. Fluidized bed agglomeration which is a novel application is important in the creation of easy‐to‐use meals. Black carrot juice powders could be successfully agglomerated with some different binders in fluidized beds. Powder properties of agglomerates containing water were as good as the binder agents.

Bubbling fluidized bed co-combustion and co-gasification of sewage sludge with agricultural residues with a focus on the fate of phosphorus

In this work, the fate of the ash-forming elements during bubbling fluidized bed combustion and gasification of P-rich sewage sludge (SS) and mixtures with either Si-K-rich wheat straw (WS) or K-Ca-rich sunflower husks (SH) were investigated. The focus of the study was assessing the feasibility of using fuel blends in fluidized bed systems and potential P recovery from the resulting ashes. The used fuels were pure SS and mixtures including 90 wt.% WS (WSS) and 85 wt.% SH (SHS). The analyzed operating conditions were combustion (930–960 °C, λ: 1.2–1.5) and gasification (780–810 °C, λ: 0.4–0.7) in a 5 kW bench-scale reactor. Residual ash and char fractions were collected from different parts of the 5 kW bubbling fluidized bed (bed, cyclone, filter) and analyzed by CHN, SEM/EDS, XRD, and ICP-AES.The conversion of the fuel mixtures achieved a steady state under the used process conditions except for the combustion of WSS, which led to the formation of large bed agglomerates with the bed material. The morphology of ash samples after combustion showed that SS fuel pellets mostly maintained their integrity during the experiment. In contrast, the ash and char particles from fuel mixtures were fragmented, and larger quantities were found in the cyclone, the filter, or on interior reactor surfaces. The fate of P was dominated by crystalline Ca-dominated whitlockites in all ash fractions, partially including K for the fuel mixtures SHS and WSS. 76–81 % of ingoing P was found in the bed residue after combustion and gasification of the SS-fuel. After conversion of the fuel mixtures SHS and WSS, the share was lower at 22–48 %, with larger shares of P in the entrained fractions (25–34 %). The quantity of identified crystalline compounds was lower after gasification than combustion, likely due to the limited interaction of ash-forming elements in the residual CHN matrix. Altogether, the results show that fuel mixtures of sewage sludge with agricultural residues could expand the fuel feedstock and enable P recovery. This may be used in the fuel and process design of upscaled fluidized bed processes or systems employing both combustion and gasification.

Agglomeration and transformation of different types of inorganic potassium in biomass during co-gasification with coal

Co-gasification of biomass and coal has many advantages, which also mitigates some of the ash-related problems induced by potassium (K) in biomass. However, this effect varies with the occurrence mode of inorganic K in biomass, which varies with the species of biomass. Therefore, the present work investigated the effect of a bituminous coal on the transformation of K and the ash chemistry of bed agglomeration (without considering the effect of fluidization) during co-gasification (steam and CO2 atmospheres) for different types of inorganic K (K2CO3, K2SO4 and KCl) in biomass. The results show that for both K2CO3 and K2SO4 in biomass, K is mainly retained as KAlSiO4 and K2SO4 in the gasification ash with KAlSiO4 being the dominant phase. In addition, for K2CO3 in biomass, more KAlSiO4 and less K2SO4 are formed under the steam atmosphere than under the CO2 atmosphere. However, the K retention of the ash or the agglomerate for both K2CO3 and K2SO4 in biomass is similar and is much higher than that for KCl in biomass, which tends to release and to induce other ash-related problems. In addition, both the organic compounds of coal and the gasification atmosphere significantly alter the reaction between coal with KCl in biomass: The majority of KCl reacts with coal to form KAlSiO4, the formation of which is quite limited for the coal ash; More K is retained in the ash and more KAlSiO4 is formed under the steam atmosphere than under the CO2 atmosphere. Lastly, although co-gasification with coal (silica sand as the bed material) cannot stop the formation of agglomerates for K2CO3, K2SO4 and KCl in biomass, these agglomerates are more easily to be broken than those produced from the gasification of biomass alone, thus mitigating bed agglomeration in fluidized-bed reactors.

Optimization of fluidized bed agglomeration process for developing a blackberry powder mixture

The research objective was to experimentally optimize the fluidized bed agglomeration process of an agglomerated blackberry powder mixture (ABPM) using the response surface methodology. As a raw material, a powdered mixture of blackberry from Castile (Rubus glaucus Benth) obtained by spray drying (SD) was used. In the evaluation of the agglomeration process, the response surface methodology was applied using a central design with a face-centered composition (α = 1), considering the independent variables: fluidisation air inlet temperature (T) (50–70 °C), the binder solution atomization air pressure (P) (1–2 bar) and process time (t) (20–35 min); and the dependent variable: moisture content (Xw), solubility (S), wettability (We), apparent density (ρa), total phenols (TP), radical scavenging (ABTS·+ and DPPH· methods), anthocyanins (Ant) (cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G)), ellagic acid (EA) and vitamin C (Vit. C). In general, the ABPM exhibited higher porosity and particle size, which generated changes in S, We and ρa, and a better rehydration capacity of the ABPM. The optimal process conditions (T = 70 °C, P = 1.7 bar and t = 21.7 min) defined the most favourable attributes of the ABPM (Xw = 9.7 ± 0.1%, S = 74.9 ± 4.9%, We = 13.7 ± 3.6 min, ρa = 0.312 ± 0.009 g/mL, TP = 4084.6 ± 30.6 mg AGE/100g dry base (db), ABTS·+ = 4511.4 ± 124.5 mg TE/100 g db, DPPH· = 4182.7 ± 66.4 mg TE/100 g db, Ant = 213.6 ± 15.9 mg C3G/100 g db, EA = 1878.2 ± 45.9 mg/100 g db and Vit. C = 29.8 ± 7.4 mg/100 g db. The agglomeration process improved the instantaneous properties and the flow behaviour of the ABPM. Additionally, it offers significant nutritional value with potential use as an instant drink and raw material for the food industry.

Artificial intelligence prediction and thermodynamic analysis on particle agglomeration/defluidization during waste incineration: Effect of sand bed composition and agglomeration indices

In the incineration process, agglomeration is caused by the combustion of wastes containing adhesion materials such as alkalis and earth alkalis. Alkali oxides not only have a low melting point but also can react with Si to form low-melting-point eutectics. Most of the researches focused on the inlet materials, however, the properties of sand bed materials are also playing an important role on defluidization process. A comprehensive analysis of sand compositions on the prediction of defluidization tendency is carried out. Variation of sand properties before and after fluidized bed operation is estimated by XRF characterization, and the effect of particle size distribution is also in consideration. Experimental results indicated that defluidization time decreases with the increasing particle size of all sand sources. Higher temperature promotes agglomeration/defluidization. According to the agglomeration indices calculation, indicator Al + Ca + Mg/(Na + K + Fe) can be used to estimate the defluidization tendency before fluidized bed operation for particle sizes below 770 μm. In contrast, for a particle size of 920 μm, Al + Ca + Mg + Fe /(Na + K) can be utilized to qualitatively characterize the defluidization time. On the other hand, the Support Vector Regression (SVR) model was the best model for predicting the defluidization time (R2 of 93.40% and MSE of 3470). Causal analysis shows particle size, K2O, and Na2O were the top three most important factors that affect the particle agglomeration. The results are helpful to the evaluation of the agglomeration tendency of sand bed materials before using fluidized bed waste incineration agglomeration in terms of qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis.

The Evolution of Variance and Entropy of the Granule Size Distribution in Fluidized Bed Agglomeration

The evolution of the variance and entropy of granule size in the fluidized bed agglomeration process using two different aggregation kernels is examined. The first is a constant kernel (aggregation is independent of both time and granule size) and permits the most unconstrained agglomeration process that can occur where granules in any size class (up to a maximum size) can be formed at any point in time. This gives the fastest and largest increase in the variance and entropy of the resulting granule size distribution. The second kernel is a mechanistic kernel including a granule growth-limiting mechanism, in this case implemented by the consideration that not all collisions result in coalescence. This markedly changes the evolution of the variance and entropy of the distribution and reduces both significantly. Quantifying the entropy of the distribution provides another perspective on the change in the size distribution in an agglomeration process. It is shown that entropy can provide a better measure of size evolution than variance in that it represents the changing shape of the distribution more closely.

Eulerian based population balance modeling of agglomeration in a bubbling fluidized bed combustor

Renewable energy sources are contributing to the displacement of fossil fuel use for power generation and biomass combustion is a viable alternative for baseload power. Fluidized bed combustion (FBC) technology has become a favorable option for biomass (including industrial wastes) fired boilers for its benefits including fuel flexibility, high combustion efficiency, lower emissions (NO x , SO x ) in comparison to other solid fuel fired boilers. However, the variation of inorganic species and corrosive deposits lead to bed agglomeration resulting in unscheduled outages. In the present work, biomass combustion and bed agglomeration in a pilot scale atmospheric-fluidized bed combustor is simulated and analyzed. The Eulerian–Eulerian simulation is validated with the experimental data available in literature using a two-dimensional simplified geometry of a pilot scale fluidized bed combustor. Two each homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions are considered for devolatilization and char combustion processes during combustion with the species transport model. Population Balance Model (PBM) is implemented to calculate agglomerate hydrodynamics with air fed as fluidizing medium from the bottom of the combustor. The model results compared well and found consistent with available experimental data. Prediction of defluidization time of the bed showed a good agreement with the results of experiments.

Statistical Investigation of Rotary Fluidized Bed Agglomeration Process with Tangential Spray and In-Line Particle Size Measurement for PAT Process Control

A statistical design of experiments for a rotary fluidized bed agglomeration process is performed to improve both the knowledge of the process and the influence of the process parameters. Agglomerates of a pharmaceutical formulation are manufactured in a laboratory fluidized bed rotor apparatus with a tangential spray nozzle. Particle size is measured in-line over the entire agglomeration process with a spatial filter velocimetry probe installed directly in the process chamber and off-line with dynamic image analysis for comparison. The influence of the process parameters spray rate, spray pressure, rotor speed, and process air temperature on the fluidized bed is investigated using a central composite design. In-line measurement of particle size is possible over the entire rotor process. Spray pressure, spray rate, square of process air temperature, and some interactions proved to be statistically significant. Particle size measured with spatial filter velocimetry and dynamic image analysis indicates good agreement and a similar trend. The successful application of particle size measurement in a fluidized bed rotor agglomeration at a laboratory scale using spatial filter velocimetry to improve process control and reduce the risk of failed batches serves as the basis for transferring to a production scale.

Syngas Quality in Fluidized Bed Gasification of Biomass: Comparison between Olivine and K-Feldspar as Bed Materials

The relevance of selecting an appropriate bed material in fluidized bed gasification is a crucial aspect that is often underestimated. The ideal material should be economical, resistant to high temperatures and have small chemical interaction with biomass. However, often only the first of such three aspects is considered, neglecting the biomass–bed interaction effects that develop at high temperatures. In this work, olivine and K-feldspar were upscale-tested in a prototype fluidized bed gasifier (FBG) using arboreal biomass (almond shells). The produced syngas in the two different tests was characterized and compared in terms of composition (H2, CH4, CO, CO2, O2) and fate of contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tar and metals.. Moreover, the composition of olivine and K-feldspar before and after the biomass gasification process has been characterized. The aim of this work is to show which advantages and disadvantages there are in choosing the most suitable material and to optimize the biomass gasification process by reducing the undesirable effects, such as heavy metal production, bed agglomeration and tar production, which are harmful when syngas is used in internal combustion engines (ICE). It has been observed that metals, such as Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, Ba and Pb, have higher concentrations in the syngas produced by using olivine as bed material rather than K-feldspar. In particular, heavy metals, such as Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni and Zn, show concentrations of 61.06 mg/Nm3, 15.29 mg/Nm3, 17.97 mg/Nm3, 37.29 mg/Nm3 and 116.39 mg/Nm3, respectively, compared to 23.26 mg/Nm3, 11.82 mg/Nm3, 2.76 mg/Nm3, 24.46 mg/Nm3 and 53.07 mg/Nm3 detected with K-feldspar. Moreover, a more hydrogen-rich syngas when using K-feldspar was produced (46% compared to 39% with olivine).

Particle Agglomeration and Properties of Pregelatinized Potato Starch Powder

Pregelatinized starches are used as thickeners in many instant food products. The unique properties of pregelatinized starches, such as their dispersibility in water and high viscosity, are generally desirable for instant food products. However, powdered starches cannot be easily dispersed in cold water due to clumping. The most reliable method to solve this problem is particle size enlargement by an agglomeration technique that causes a structural change in the starch. In this study, pregelatinized potato starch powder (PPSP) was agglomerated in a fluidized bed agglomerator, after which the physical, structural, and rheological properties of the PPSP agglomerated with different maltodextrin (MD) binder concentrations were investigated. The powder solubility and flowability (CI and HR) of all the agglomerated PPSPs were improved, and the particle size (D50) tended to increase as the MD concentration increased, except for the control (0% MD) and the 40% MD. The changes in the particle size of the agglomerated PPSPs were consistent with the SEM image analysis. The magnitudes of the gel strength and viscoelastic moduli (G' and G″) of the agglomerated PPSPs with 10% MD were higher than those of the control due to the more stable structure formed by better intermolecular interaction in the starch and MD during the agglomeration process. Therefore, our results indicated that the fluidized bed agglomeration process and the MD addition as a binder solution greatly influence the physical, structural, and rheological properties of PPSP.