Lateral solid particles mixing in a centrifugal fluidized bed

The lateral mixing of solid particles in a centrifugal fluidized bed in which the rotation axis is horizontal was investigated from the unsteady-state behavior of tracer particles. The lateral mixing characteristics were analyzed by a diffusion model identical to that for a conventional fluidized bed. The lateral dispersion coefficient of particles was affected by variables such as gas velocity, rotational speed of the rotor, particle diameter, bed height and minimum fluidized velocity. From the experimental results an empirical equation for the coefficient was obtained. Its value for a centrifugal fluidized bed was smaller than that calculated from empirical equations for a conventional fluidized bed, because of smaller bubble diameter and bed height, centrifugal force, and the like.