Group C+ particles: Enhanced flow and fluidization of fine powders with nano-modulation

The main challenge in the flow and fluidization of Geldart Group C particles is their cohesive nature due to strong interparticle forces. The "nanoparticle modulation" technique is adopted to reduce the interparticle forces of Group C particles and thus significantly improve their flow and fluidization quality. Group C+ particles, a new type of fine particles with drastically reduced or insignificant interparticle forces, are created using the nano-modulation technique. Fundamental studies provided a comprehensive understanding of the flow and fluidization quality of Group C+ particles. Nano-modulation led to major enhancements to both the static and dynamic flowability of Group C+ particles. Moreover, Group C+ particles exhibited revolutionary advancements in fluidization, which enabled its pseudo-particulate fluidization over a wide range of operating gas velocities, up to 200-300% times that of bed expansion. The high bed expansion allows more gas to be retained in the bed and provides large volumes for gassolid interfacial contact, thus promoting chemical reactions, especially gas phase catalytic reactions. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.