Characterization of dynamic behaviour of the continuous phase in liquid fluidized bed

The dynamic behaviour of the continuous phase in liquid solid fluidized bed is characterized through velocity measurements by laser anemometry at the top of the bed. The experiments were conducted using glass particles of 2, 4 and 8 mm diameter fluidized by water. The root mean square (RMS) of axial velocity fluctuations presents a maximum value at porosity around 0.7 and increases with particle diameter. When compared to the fixed bed situation, we observe an enhancement of the agitation probably due to the added mass effect which plays the role of a turbulence promoter. The spectra analysis of the velocity time series has revealed a specific spectral dynamic of liquid fluidized bed for the higher frequency range which does neither follow strictly the Kolmogorov law nor a Brownian process power law. A time frequency-scale decomposition combined to an autocorrelation analysis of velocity signal was pertinent to capture the impact of porosity waves and cooperative movements of particles on the liquid phase dynamic, and to characterize these coherent structures by low frequency scales (below 1 Hz). The results compare well with the available data obtained directly from void propagation studies by light transmission techniques. Moreover, the high frequency scales have been found random and linked to the small scale movements of the particles. We have shown, when possible, the similarity of behaviour between the liquid and the dispersed phase dynamics through the comparison of some characteristics.