The Richardson‐Zaki Equation Reconsidered: Derivation of the Power Law for Aerated Particle Beds

Abstract

Ing. Joachim Werther on the occasion of his 80th birthdayAnalytical derivations of the Richardson-Zaki power law in the case of aeratable fine particle beds where the interparticle forces allow the creation of expanded beds, known also as meta-states, with fixed structures, but not yet fluidized, have been developed. The analysis is based on the concept that the fluid flow through such beds is governed by the porous media equations such as Darcy's and Forchheimer models, upon the assumption of deformable bed structures (driven by the fluid flow) and fluid velocity independent pressure drop.