ELECTRIC FIELD PHENOMENA IN FLUIDIZED AND FIXED BEDS

Stabilization of a bed of dielectric particles against fluidization by an electric field (≥ 103 volts/cm) is described. Glass bead and silica gel particle beds have been observed to behave as packed beds with flow rates (and pressure drops) of the fluidizing gas up to 15 times the normal incipient fluidization rate. The pressure drop at the breakup of this fixed bed was dependent on the second power of voltage, the particular bed material, and geometry of the system. Under suitable conditions 100% bed expansion without diffusive particle motion or bubble formation was obtained using silica gel particles. Comparison with iron particle bed‐magnetic field effects are presented. Surface polarization charge effects are the simplest explanation of the phenomena. Several of the possible applications are suggested, such as precipitation enhancement in an aerosol filter or as a new tool for investigating aggregative fluidization. Copyright © 1969 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering