Radial dispersion characteristics of solids in a shallow gas-fluidized bed of 25.4 cm-ID have been studied.
The effects of gas velocity (4.27-21.35 cm/s), static bed height (15-30 cm) and particle size (0.324-0.670 mm) on the radial dispersion coefficient have been determined.
Sand was used as the solid phase and air as the gas phase throughout this study.
The radial dispersion coefficient was determined from the proposed one dimensional dispersion model with the concentration profiles of the tracer particles.
The radial dispersion coefficient did not change appreciably with the bed height except near the grid zone. Also, the coefficient was found to be independent of the operation time.
In general, the radial dispersion coefficient increased with gas velocity and the static bed height. However, the coefficient decreased slightly with increase of particle size.
