Mechanism of fluidization

The mechanism of fluidization has been investigated, in particular the method of initiation of movement. A detailed study of the discontinuities found in many liquid fluidized systems has been made. By means of an artificially created discontinuity or parvoid the mechanism of propagation of these parvoids has been studied and a correlation produced which agrees with the data obtained from the naturally occurring parvoids up to a superficial water velocity of 1.5 Umf. At higher superficial velocities the curve relating water velocity to parvoid velocity passed through a series of peaks or breaks. These can be explained on the basis of an inherent mechanism of speed control by means of reductions in the amount of dense phase existing between successive parvoids.