Published 4 issues per year
ISSN Print: 0276-1459
ISSN Online: 1943-6181
Indexed in
EFFECT OF AN ACOUSTIC FIELD ON HYDRODYNAMICS OF A BINARY MIXTURE OF POWDERS
ABSTRACT
Multiple particulate phase hydrodynamics is important in many industrial applications that involve segregation or mixing processes. Conventional fluidization is often impossible because the interparticle attraction is large and use of acoustic field is considered as the best option to overcome the problem specifically in mineral classification, elutriation, sedimentation, crystallization, and fluid bed leaching, just to name a few. This paper presents findings of an investigation to increase the flowability of extremely cohesive powders and study the effect of acoustic intensity and frequency on the behavior of the mixture of binary material. It also presents the effect of sound waves on the minimum fluidization velocity, bed expansion, and minimum bubbling velocity. Experiments revealed that the minimum fluidization velocity (Umfs) and minimum bubbling velocity (Umbs) with sound force first decrease and then increase with increase in bed mass fractions, which were varied from 20 to 80%. It is also seen that bed height increases with an increase in mass fraction in the presence of acoustic field.