Estimation of the minimum fluidization velocity for beds of spherical particles fluidized by power law liquids

Abstract

In this communication, the applicability of different methods available for the estimation of the minimum fluidization velocity for power law fluidizing media has been investigated. Based on extensive comparisons between predictions and experimental results embracing wide ranges of physical and kinematic conditions, it is concluded that the methods of I. Machac, M. Balcar and Z. Lecjaks, Chem. Eng. Sci., 41 (1986) 591 and A.K. Jaiswal, T. Sundararajan and R.P. Chhabra, Numer. Heat Transfer, 21A (1992) 275, reproduce 39 individually determined experimental values of the minimum fluidization velocity with minimum overall average deviation for spherical particles; the performance of these two methods is slightly poorer for non-spherical particles. Most of the available data is, however, limited to the low Reynolds number region.