Experimental flow behaviors of irregular particles with silica sand in solid waste fluidized bed

Co-fluidization characteristics of irregular particles with bed material have been investigated. Experiments were carried out in a solid waste fluidized bed with cross section of 0.2 m × 0.2 m and height of 2 m. Four particles differing in shapes, sizes and densities were used as simulative solid waste, and silica sand was employed as fluidization medium. The pressure drop, flow pattern and minimum fluidization velocity (Umf) under different operating conditions were investigated by recording pressure differential signals and fluidization images. A correlation of Umf was also developed. The results showed that during the fluidization of irregular particles with the bed material of silica sand, the pressure drop curve measured with increasing fluidization gas flow rate was visibly fluctuant and always underestimated the Umf value; while the pressure drop curve measured with decreasing fluidization gas flow rate was smooth and adequate to determine the value of Umf. The Umf was found to be increased with increasing volume proportion and effective particle density, while the initial static bed height has no significant effect on the minimum fluidization velocity. By comparing the Umf values predicted by the developed correlation with the present experimental data and those from literature, it was found that the correlation was quite satisfactory on predicting the Umf value for the fluidization of irregular particles with the bed material of silica sand. The correlation was also found to be applicable to the prediction of Umf values of a solid waste fluidized bed with a single kind or multi-kinds of irregular particles.