PARTICLE-SIZE SEGREGATION IN BAFFLED FLUIDIZED-BEDS

The size separation efficiency of a fluidized bed equipped with horizontal perforated baffles was studied in batch-wise and continuous operation with and without side-stream air withdrawal. Side-stream air withdrawal did not improve the separation. A new segregation index was developed which permits a comparison between batch-wise and continuous separation results on a comparable basis and also decreases some of the deficiencies of previous expressions. The data were correlated by regression analysis. It was found that the solid feed rate was the most important factor and the fluidizing gas velocity was of lesser importance.