3-dimensional particle tracking in a fluid dynamically downscaled fluidized bed using magnetoresistive sensors

Abstract

This paper presents a measurement technique for continuous tracking of particles in 3-dimensional bubbling fluidized beds operated according to scaling laws. By applying Glicksman’s full set of scaling laws to both bulk solids and tracer particle, the bed is assumed to be fluid dynamically similar to a combustor operated at 900 °C with the tracer particle corresponding to a fuel particle with properties similar to anthracite coal. Two different gas distributors with varying pressure drop are used to investigate the influence of bed design on fuel mixing. Flow structures formed around rising gas bubbles, the so-called bubble paths, are identified, and the tracer particle traverses the entire bed for a gas distributor yielding a high pressure drop. For a gas distributor yielding a low pressure drop, flow structures are less pronounced, and the tracer particle is not circulating the entire bed.