Minimum liquid fluidization velocity in gas-liquid-solid fluidized beds of low density particles

Phase properties evolve in biological and biochemical three-phase fluidization processes and thus it is essential to continuously monitor the fluidization regime. The density of the solids used in these processes is usually only slightly higher than the liquid density. Many techniques used to determine the minimum liquid fluidization velocity of systems with heavier solids do not work with lower-density solid systems. For gas-liquid-solid systems over a wide range of solid densities, the minimum liquid fluidization velocity can be determined from the coefficient of variation of V-statistic of the integrated-bed pressure gradient and the derivative of local conductivity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.