Influence of horizontal tube banks on the behavior of bubbling fluidized beds 1. Bubble hydrodynamics

Experimental data on bubble characteristics-averaged size and rise velocity -were obtained using digital image analysis methods from two-dimensional (t hin) bubbling fluidized beds with and without simulated horizontal tube bun dles, These data were used to develop semiempirical correlations for bubble size and rise velocity. These mechanistic correlations can be extrapolated readily to three-dimensional fluidized beds, and calculations for bubble s ize, velocity and bubble fraction compare favorably with relevant literatur e data. Application of these correlations for bubble behavior in the interp retation of experimental data on the mixing of solids-in two- and three-dim ensional fluidized beds containing horizontal tubes-is illustrated in an ac companying paper. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.