Flow in the annulus of a bed of fine particles spouted with water

The flow in the annulus of a water spouted bed of glass particles (275 to 774 μm) was studied experimentally in a cylindrical half‐column 50.8 mm in diameter. An axisymmetric model, which assumes Darcy flow in the annulus and uses the experimental spout pressure distribution, predicts the flow and pressure fields in the annulus. The substantial differences between this flowfield and that for coarse particle beds that are observed are caused by differences in the normalized interfacial pressure profile. The model predicts that both the fluid velocity and the normalized fluid velocity at the top of the annulus decrease as the particle size and bed height are reduced. Particles are observed to enter the spout primarily near the spout inlet in agreement with predictions of the axial spout voidage distribution. The residence time distribution of the fluid in the annulus is relatively broad and the measured residence times are about 25% higher than those calculated.