Fluidity of a continuous transverse flow magnetically stabilized

Abstract

In a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed in which the bed particles continuously move transverse to the flow of the fluidizing fluid, the bed particles have increased fluidity when the bed is operated at or substantially near the locus of transition between the bubbling and stabilized regimes of said bed. More specifically, the particulate bed comprising a transverse flow magnetically stabilized fluidized bed process has greater fluidity when the bed is operated such that the ratio of the difference between the transition velocity and the operating velocity to the difference between the transition velocity and the normal minimum fluidization velocity ranges between -0.1 and +0.5. The increased fluidity facilitates the movement of solids within a vessel as well as the transfer of solids to other vessels. Stabilization of the bed, which prevents and substantially eliminates fluid bypassing and solids backmixing, may be effected externally by an applied magnetic field or internally by permanently magnetized magnetic particles within the bed. The present invention has application to a wide variety of processes (particularly separation and filtration-processes) wherein small size fluidizable, absorbent particles can be used without encountering the high pressure drops normally associated with non-stabilized beds.