Experimental Results and Models for Solid/Liquid Fluidized Beds Involving Newtonian and Non‐Newtonian Liquids

Fluidization technology relies almost solely on fluid/particle interaction wherein the liquid phase may exhibit Newtonian or non‐Newtonian behavior. The steady motion of particles and the velocity‐voidage relationship are the most important design parameters for fluidization, providing the basis for the prediction of heat and mass transfer coefficients and information on hydrodynamic conditions. A summary of the literature on particle settling velocity, minimum fluidization velocity and velocity voidage relationship is supplemented by new experimental results, which extend the range of investigated solid and liquid phase physical properties. Correlations for particle settling velocity and velocity‐voidage relationship are developed and verified against experimental data.