AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF PARTICLE-SHAPE ON FLUIDIZATIONBEHAVIOR

Few correlations exist to describe the effect of particle shape on the relationship between superficial velocity and void fraction in homoge neous fluid beds. Limestone, quartz, bottom ash and pea gravel particl es were fluidized with water and a data bank of void fractions and flu idizing velocities was compiled. Each particle type was image analyzed to yield average shape descriptors, namely aspect ratio, fractal dime nsion, polygonal harmonic persistences and delta (Piper's) angles. Reg ression showed that the slope of a log (superficial velocity) versus l og (void fraction) plot can be fitted using a function of a shape desc riptor, with the persistence of the third harmonic being the descripto r yielding the best fit.