Surfaces waves on a homogeneously fluidized bed (Q1064241)

This paper examines the possible small-amplitude motions of the free- surface of a bounded uniformly-fluidized bed for which the density ratio \(\rho_ f/\rho_ s\ll 1\), where \(\rho_ f\) is the fluid density and \(\rho_ s\) is the solid density. The free-surface, defined by the uppermost layer of particles, separates the fluidized bed from a pure fluid region above. When the bed is disturbed, waves appear on the free- surface. These surface motions are determined by an inviscid theory which neglects the particle and fluid phase viscosity. Initially a uniformly- fluidized bed is analyzed, and a condition is established which ensures uniformity for any small perturbation about the uniform state. It is then shown that, if the velocity fields both within the bed and above it are separated into irrotational and rotational parts, only the irrotational parts govern the free-surface motions. Finally, for 2-D flow in a bed of rectangular cross-section and for axisymmetric flow in a bed of cylindrical cross-section, standing wave solutions are obtained which are exactly the same as the solutions for the equivalent free-surface motions of a pure liquid.