The particle motion in vibrated fluidized bed was examined by using numerical simulation. A two-dimensional fluidized bed was used, and discrete element method (DEM) was used as for calculating the particle motion in vibrated fluidized bed. Geldart group B particle, which is regarded to have no effect of agglomerate, was used as the fluidizing particle. The vibration directions (vertical and horizontal) and vibration parameters (frequency and amplitude of vibration) were changed.
In the case with vertical vibration, large bubbles caused by vibration gap (defined as the gap between particle bed and wall caused by vibration) appear in bed. When the vibration strength is high and the vibration frequency is low, it is difficult to fludize the particle bed in the case with horizontal vibration because the vibration gap acts like the channel. When the vibration frequency increases at the same vibration strength, the effect of vibration on the particle motion becomes small. The effect of vibration on the pressure loss in particle bed is large in the case with horizontal vibration. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.