Hydrodynamics of supercritical ethanol fluid-particles fluidization using low density ratio kinetic theory of granular flow

Hydrodynamics of sub- and super-critical ethanol fluid and particles were simulated using a low density ratio kinetic theory of granular flow in fluidized beds. The coexistence of a wave-like flow near the bottom and chunk-like flow at the upper part was observed in subcritical ethanol fluidized beds. During the fluidization of supercritical ethanol fluid-particle mixtures, aggregate-like structures of particles were found with increasing ethanol fluid temperatures and decreasing ethanol fluid pressures in supercritical ethanol fluidized beds. The simulated fluidization states identified reasonably with predictions using three different dimensionless numbers and stability function according to kinematic wave and dynamic wave velocities. The predicted bed expansion heights agreed with experimental data in supercritical carbon dioxide fluidized beds.