Minimum liquid fluidization velocity in gas-liquid-solid fluidized beds

Accurate defection of minimum liquid fluidization is essential to the successful operation of gas-liquid-solid fluidized beds, especially when particle or liquid properties evolve. A gas-liquid-solid system of 3-mm glass beads exhibits three distinct flow regimes as the liquid velocity is increased: compacted agitated and fluidized-bed regimes. Measurements showed that the bed is not fluidized in the agitated bed regime. Pressure gradient and bed height measurements do not provide the minimum liquid fluidization velocity; instead they offer the velocity between the compacted and agitated bed regimes. Time-averaged signals are not reliable for determining the minimum liquid fluidization velocity. it can be obtained from the standard deviation, the average frequency, the Hurst exponent and the V statistic of the cross-sectional average conductivity, which can be measured under many industrial conditions.