Hydrodynamic influences on particle breakage in fluidized beds

Abstract Experimental data are provided for the attrition of particles in a gas-fluidized bed. Results are interpreted using mechanistic models which relate the rate of attrition of the bed material to the hydrodynamic forces in the bed and the mechanical strength of the material. Two models are developed based on low-energy impacts in the bulk of the bed and high-energy collisions near the distributor. The reasonable agreement between the theory and the measurements indicates the attrition of bed material is caused by particle—particle and/or particle—wall impacts in the core of the bed.