Spouting enhancement by addition of small quantities of liquid to large-particle gas-spouted beds

The spounting enhancement by addition of small quantities of liquid to large gas-spouted beds was investigated and compared with the observations of liquid-assisted fluidized beds. In spouted beds, the liquid gathers only in a restricted region around the gas spout, contrary to fluidized beds, where it is spread over the entire cross-section. The mode of enhancement is considered in relation to the hydrodynamics in the bed, pressure profiles and the nature of the spout-annulus interface. It was shown that when liquid is added to a gas-spouted bed of relatively large non-wettable particles, with a liquid density similar to the particle density, the liquid addition can cause a dramatic increase in the extent of spouting.