MECHANISTIC MODELS FOR TRANSITIONS BETWEEN REGIMES OF FLUIDIZATION

Understanding the flow regime transitions is important because different flow regimes provide vastly different solid circulation patterns, solids and gas mixing rates, and thus the chemical reaction rates. They, in turn, dictate the reactor design considerations. There are very few theoretical discussions and correlations available in the literature on the criteria of flow transitions between these different regimes. This paper attempts to develop mechanistic models to predict these flow transitions for fine particles generally belonging to Geldart's Class A.