Electromechanics and Fluidization Characteristics of Cross Flow Type Electrofluidized Beds

The electric field imposed bed behavior at incipient fluidization has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The experiment was done using Neobead, glass bead, and Toyoura sand of particle size from 100 to 600¿am for electrode gaps from 0.8 to 3.8 cm, and applied voltage from 0 to 14 kV. The pressure overshoot at incipient fluidization under the electric field was observed to be influenced by particle material, particles sizes, and electrode gap distances. The calculation of interparticle electrostatic adhesive force was done by a modified random packing model, and the results were compared with measured values. The comparison shows that the present modified model predicts phenomena much better when larger electric fields are imposed. The processes of initiating fluidization were also analyzed through an observation of the bed pressure charging in response to instantaneously applied step change of gas pressure.