MAGNETIC STABILIZATION OF THE STATE OF UNIFORM FLUIDIZATION

A mathematical stability analysis based on equations of motion augmented for stresses of magnetic polarization predicts that the state of uniform fluidization may be magnetically stabilized against growth of perturbations in voidage. The propagation and decay of voidage fluctuations are related to the physical and magnetic properties of the fluidized system with stabilization controlled by a dimensionless modulus representing the ratio of magnetic energy to a kinetic energy of the fluidized medium. The stabilized regime exists when the fluid velocity equals or exceeds the velocity of minimum fluidization but is less than the velocity at which transition to bubbling and turbulence occurs. The transition velocity increases with increased magnetization of the bed particles and may exceed the minimum fluidization velocity by more than a factor of 10. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.