A critical evaluation of literature correlations for predicting bubble size and velocity in gas-solid fluidized beds

Twenty-five different correlations for bubble size and seven different correlations for bubble rise velocity have been evaluated by comparing their predictions with data available from the open literature. The performance of these correlations has been quantified by calculating the squared difference between the correlation predictions and the experimental data in seven categories for bubble size (Geldart A, B, and D particles, low (less than 10 U-mf) and high (greater than 10 U-mf) excess gas velocity, and perforated and porous plate distributers) and three categories for bubble rise velocity (Geldart A, B, and D particles). The results indicate that the correlations of Cai et al. [Powder Technol. 80 (1994) 99-109] and Werther [Ger. Chem. Eng. 1 (1978) 166-174] are the best choices for calculating the bubble size and bubble rise velocity, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.