Comparison of conventional and novel probes for measuring electrostatics and hydrodynamics during fluidization of polyethylene

•Conventional and novel probes were compared to measure charge and hydrodynamics inside fluidized beds of polyethylene particles.•Both probes were treated by similar analysis procedures.•Results from former were widely scattered while the latter were uniform and quantitatively comparable with direct measurements.

Electrostatic phenomena in gas–solid fluidized beds have recently received attention from both the academic and industrial communities. However, a suitable charge density measurement tool is still missing. Conventional single-tip and novel dual-tip probes were tested and compared to measure charge buildup and hydrodynamics inside fluidized beds of polyethylene particles. Results from the former showed reasonable trends, but were widely scattered, whereas results from the latter were more uniform and of the same order of magnitudes as those directly measured by a Faraday cup sampling system.