Revisiting the Wen and Yu equations for minimum fluidization velocity prediction

Correlating data is a delicate task where the best is among the worse. The present study aims at presenting an improvement of the use of Wen and Yu simplifications for minimum fluidization velocity having presented the scientific awkwardness contained in the usual method of using their or similar relations simultaneously in combination with Ergun's equation. The present study has demonstrated the contradiction deduced from the simultaneous use of these Wen and Yu relations as it is the case for the minimum fluidization velocity. The method of Wen and Yu which consists of simultaneously eliminating the bed voidage at minimum fluidization and particle sphericity from the minimum fluidization velocity calculation remains definitively scientifically wrong and should be avoided. A change in the Wen and Yu's correlations use is then suggested to increase, on the one hand, the prediction accuracy for the minimum fluidization velocity calculation, and on the other hand, the scientific exactness of this generally received engineering method. Performances of the new method significantly improves the prediction of minimum fluidization velocity.