Fluidization in tapered vessels

Methods for the prediction of bed height and pressure drop in tapered air-fluidized beds are proposed. A comparison was made with measurements in slugging fluidized beds in the slow bubble regime over a wide range of apex angle from 0° (rectangular) to 45°. The bed height and pressure drop are well predicted by each of the proposed methods using the same constant values of bubble rise velocity and fluctuation ratio as for the rectangular fluidized bed with the same distributor geometry.