Processing intensification using porous particles in gas–solid separation fluidized bed

Porous particles are widely utilized in industries such as chemical engineering and energy due to their large specific surface area. Existing research primarily focuses on fixed beds of porous particles, with limited experimental studies on fluidized beds of these particles. The traditional non-porous particle gas–solid fluidization theory is not applicable to porous particles. Thus, studying the fluidization characteristics of gas–solid fluidized beds with porous particles is essential. This study demonstrates that porous particles have higher bed expansion capacity and strong gas-holding ability. Their internal pore structure allows them to exceed their own Geldart classification, making non-cohesive particles exhibit fluidization characteristics typical of cohesive particles. Bed collapse experiments compared the two-phase distribution characteristics of porous and non-porous Geldart A and B particles. Results indicate that porous particles have 4 to 5 times the emulsion phase expansion of non-porous particles. Notably, porous Geldart B particles outperformed non-porous Geldart A particles in emulsion phase expansion. Therefore, porous particles not only offer a significant specific surface area advantage in gas–solid fluidized bed reactors but also exhibit excellent emulsion phase expansion characteristics. This study provides key theoretical support for designing new porous materials, improving particle production processes, and enhancing gas–solid fluidized bed reactor performance.