ParticleCycle Times and Solid Circulation Rates inConical Spouted Beds with Draft Tubes of Different Configuration.

Particle cycle times(average, maximum, and minimum) have beenmeasured in draft tube conical spouted beds for different geometricfactors of the contactor (angle and gas inlet diameter), draft tubes(diameter, height of the entrainment zone, and width of the faces)and under different operating conditions (particle density). On thebasis of the results, the effects of the type of draft tube and differentfactors of the contactor/draft tube/particle system have been studied,and those of greater influence have been determined. The results showthat particle cycle times and solid circulation rates are highly dependenton the type of draft tube, solid density, and contactor angle. Open-sideddraft tubes are the ones with the highest solid circulation rate withstable spouting performance. Therefore, this internal device is asuitable option for scaling up spouted beds with a hydrodynamic performancesimilar to those without tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]