Effect of an immersed tube-bank in a gas fluidized bed

Bubble properties in a three-dimensional, freely-bubbling, gas fluidized bed are reported in the presence and the absence of a horizontal tube-bundle. The tube-bundle is a staggered-array of tubes 1.9cm in diameter, with a pitch: diameter ratio of 3.5. Two different gas distributor plates, one made from sintered metal and one a simple perforated plate, were used and results compared under identical fluidizing conditions. Bubble rise velocities, bubble size and frequency distributions are measured and reported. Greater bubble rise velocities are recorded in a bed free of solid obstacles with both distributor plates. Bubble size distributions do not seem to be greatly affected by the presence of a horizontal tube-bank in the bed.