The effect of fine particles on elutriation of coarse particles in a gas fluidized bed

The effect of fine particles on the elutriation rate of the coarse particle s at the gas exit was investigated in a gas-fluidized bed (i.d.: 0.1 m, hei ght: 1.97 m) with sand as bed material. The elutriation rate of the coarse particles increased with the gas velocity and the proportion of fine partic les in the bed. It was found to increase nearly proportionally with the upw ard momentum of the fine particles calculated on bases of unit mass and com position of bed particles at a specified gas velocity. The effect of the fi ne particles on the elutriation of the coarse particles decreased as the ga s velocity increased. The elutriation of the fine particles was not affecte d by the size distribution of bed particles. An improved correlation to det ermine the elutriation rate of the coarse particles has been proposed for s and particles. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.