1990 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
fluidization rate. This process was then repeated with
smaller step sizes of 0.2 L/min and 0.1 L/min in narrower
fluidization rate ranges. The collected experimental data are
utilized to validate the CFD model. However, validation
is only conducted using experimental data obtained dur-
ing the upward trend since the CFD simulations did not
capture the downward trend observed in the experiments.
The temporal evolution of solid particle volume frac-
tions is illustrated via sequences of snapshots in Figure 2. The
bed with smaller particles displays homogeneous fluidisa-
tion and locally uniform solid volume fraction. Conversely,
the bed with larger particles appears less fluidised and non-
uniform. Figure 3 depicts the bed height measured at vari-
ous fluidisation rates as predicted by the CFD simulations,
compared with the corresponding experimental results. In
Figure 3a, the complete spectrum of flow rates is presented,
while Figure 3b focuses on flow rates ranging from 0.0 L/
min to 1.6 L/min for a more distinct visualization. The
Figure 2. Effect of particle size on bed hydrodynamics as illustrated by snapshots of solids volume fraction for four different
particle sizes
Figure 3. Comparison of numerically measured bed height with experimental data for a range of fluidisation rates (a) flowrate
0.0 L/min – 2.4 L/min, (b) 0.0 L/min – 1.6 L/min
fluidization rate. This process was then repeated with
smaller step sizes of 0.2 L/min and 0.1 L/min in narrower
fluidization rate ranges. The collected experimental data are
utilized to validate the CFD model. However, validation
is only conducted using experimental data obtained dur-
ing the upward trend since the CFD simulations did not
capture the downward trend observed in the experiments.
The temporal evolution of solid particle volume frac-
tions is illustrated via sequences of snapshots in Figure 2. The
bed with smaller particles displays homogeneous fluidisa-
tion and locally uniform solid volume fraction. Conversely,
the bed with larger particles appears less fluidised and non-
uniform. Figure 3 depicts the bed height measured at vari-
ous fluidisation rates as predicted by the CFD simulations,
compared with the corresponding experimental results. In
Figure 3a, the complete spectrum of flow rates is presented,
while Figure 3b focuses on flow rates ranging from 0.0 L/
min to 1.6 L/min for a more distinct visualization. The
Figure 2. Effect of particle size on bed hydrodynamics as illustrated by snapshots of solids volume fraction for four different
particle sizes
Figure 3. Comparison of numerically measured bed height with experimental data for a range of fluidisation rates (a) flowrate
0.0 L/min – 2.4 L/min, (b) 0.0 L/min – 1.6 L/min