A stochastic model of bubble distribution in gas-solid fluidized beds

On the basis of the Langevin equation and the Fokker-Planck equation, a stochastic model of bubble distribution in a gas-solid fluidized bed was developed. A fluidized bed with a cross section of 0.3 mx0.02 m and a height of 0.8 m was used to investigate the bubble distribution with the photographic method. Two distributors were used with orifice diameters of 3 and 6 mm and opening ratios of 6.4% and 6.8%, respectively. The particles were color glass beads with diameters of 0.3, 0.5 and 0.8 mm (Geldart group B particles). The model predictions are reasonable in accordance with the experiment data. The research results indicated that the distribution of bubble concentration was affected by the particle diameter, the fluidizing velocity, and the distributor style. The fluctuation extension of the distribution of bubble concentration narrowed as the particle diameter, fluidizing velocity and opening ratio of the distributor increased. For a given distributor and given particles the distribution was relatively steady along the bed height as the fluidizing velocity changed.