Effect of Distributor Design on the Bottom Zone Hydrodynamics in a Fluidized Bed Dryer Using 1-D X-ray Densitometry Imaging

The hydrodynamics near the base of a 15 cm i.d. fluidized-bed dryer having perforated, punched, and porous plate distributors have been studied using one-dimensional X-ray densitometry imaging. The time-averaged solids concentration profiles of dry pharmaceutical granule and wet granule undergoing drying were compared. The porous plate creates good gas distribution over the bed cross section with dry granule but results in defluidization at the distributor level when the granule is wet. The perforated and punched plates exhibit different solids concentration profiles with dry granule; however, the presence of moisture results in similar hydrodynamics between the plates during drying. Standard deviation analysis of the high-frequency solids concentration data was used to corroborate the results of the time-averaged solids concentration measurements.