Prediction of the particle circulation rate in a draft tube spouted bed suspension dryer

A model for predicting the particle circulation rate in a draft tube spouted bed dryer with inert particles is proposed and verified. The calculation algorithm requires three input values: the gas velocity in the draft tube, one data point for the static pressure in the draft tube, and the pressure gradient in the annulus. The particle circulation rate can be estimated by solving the continuity andmomentum equations for turbulent accelerating two-phase flow. The numerical solution is based on an iterative procedure until the assumed value of the particle circulation rate produces the prescribed value of the fluid static pressure at a certain axial position. Experiments were performed in a cylindrical column of 215 mm diameter with a draft tube of 70 mm diameter and length of 900 mm. Polyetylene pellets were used as the inert particles with a diameter of 3.3 mm, a density of 921 kg/m3 and a sphericity of 0.873. The model predictions of the particle circulation rate are in good agreement with the experimental data.