An experimental investigation of burning rate and mass transfer in a turbulent fluidized bed

Abstract Burning rates of carbon spheres are measured in a 102 mm diameter bed fluidized in the turbulent regime. Results suggest carbon burns much faster than in a bubbling fluidized bed operating under otherwise similar conditions—excepting velocity. The enhanced burning rate is attributed to high mass transfer rates in a turbulent fluidized bed. This indirect observation of high mass transfer rate in turbulent fluidized beds is confirmed by a series of mass transfer (sublimation of naphthalene) experiments in the same bed. For the prediction of mass transfer in turbulent fluidized beds, a correlation of the Sherwood number is proposed. It shows a fair agreement with experimental data.