Production of rare earth oxides from raw ore in fluidized bed reactor

Fluidization characteristics of wide-size-distribution particles in a gas-solid fluidized bed reactor

Fluidization characteristics of wide-size-distribution particles in the gas-solid fluidized bed reactor are investigated by applying experiment and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. In this study, three types of narrow-cut particles and two sets of wide-size-distribution particles are used. A model considering particle size distribution is developed in the Eulerian frame, and good agreement between numerical results and experimental data is observed. The particle size distribution has an important effect on the average bed voidage. The axial particle diameter profiles along bed height have a “S” type feature. Minimum fluidization velocity is determined from the standard deviation of pressure fluctuations and bubble dynamics are analyzed based on power spectra. Results indicate that fine particle composition can reduce the minimum fluidization velocity of wide-size-distribution particle system and the bubble diameter in the fluidized bed.