Liquid axial dispersion in gas-liquid-solid fluidized beds

An experimental investigation of the axial dispersion of the liquid in gas-liquid-soil fluidized beds is presented. It appears that at liquid velocities below the minimum for fluidization by liquid alone the axial dispersion coefficient is very low; a comparison of the results with correlations in the literature shows that the correlation proposed by Kim and Kim leads to the best representation of our results. It is also shown that the axial dispersion coefficients is an increasing function of the mechanical energy dissipation rate and of the particle diameter. Some measurements made with an organic solvent (propylene carbonate) stress the need for further experimental work with liquids other than pure water.