Characterizing Jetting in an Acoustic Fluidized Bed Using X-Ray Computed Tomography

Abstract

Understanding the jetting phenomena near the gas distributor plate in a fluidized bed is important to gas-solids mixing, heat and mass transfer, and erosion on any bed internals, which can all affect the performance of the bed. Moreover, acoustic vibration in a fluidized bed can be used to enhance the fluidization quality of particulate matter. Characterizing the jetting structure using X-ray computed tomography in a 3D fluidized bed, with and without acoustic intervention, is completed in this study. A 10.2 cm ID fluidized bed filled with glass beads, with material density of 2500 kg/m3 and particles sizes ranging between 212–600 μm, is used in these experiments. X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging is used to determine local time-average gas holdup. From this information, qualitative characteristics of the hydrodynamic structure of the multiphase flow system are determined. Local time-average gas holdup images of the fluidized bed under acoustic intervention at a high superficial gas velocity show that jets produced near the aeration plate merge with other jets at a higher axial position of the bed compared to the no acoustic condition. Acoustic fluidized beds also have a fewer number of active jets than the no acoustic fluidized bed, which allowed for a more homogeneous gas holdup region deep into the bed. Hence, the acoustic presence has a significant effect on the jetting phenomena near the distributor plate of the fluidized bed.