Particle tracking velocimetry study of wet particle flow in a pseudo two-dimensional fluidized bed

Abstract

In particle preparation, likes drying, coating and granulation, the flow characteristics of wet particles in the fluidized bed are extremely complex due to the effect of water content. It is essential to investigate the flow characteristics of wet particles for optimizing process efficiency and ensure the end-point product quality. In this research, a high-speed camera was employed to conduct experimental investigation for wet particles flow within a pseudo two-dimensional fluidized bed. The flow dynamics of wet particles under different water contents and different inlet gas velocities were investigated. The particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) measurement was explored to observe the particle movement in specific regions, including particle velocity distribution and particle concentration. A digital imaging method, i.e. Voronoi method, was utilized to address particle allocation challenges, providing a foundation for calculating intricate parameters such as solid-phase flow field, granular temperature and solid volume fraction. These parameters were calculated based on the essential information derived from the Lagrangian trajectories of particles, which enriched the understanding of complex interactions in the wet particle flow dynamics system.