Study of the hydrodynamics within a draft tube spouted bed system

Abstract

Abstract Two dimensional Darcy and Ergun models are used to describe the hydrodynamics within the annulus of a spouted bed equipped with a draft tube. Experimental pressure and stream function data for water spouting are shown to be in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Verification of a general spout‐annulus interfacial boundary condition is also established and it is shown that the entry region below the draft tube functions as a classical spouted bed. In addition, an experimental procedure for determining the location of the spout‐annulus interface is presented. Fluid residence time distributions are calculated for a few cases of practical interest.