A reference data set for bubbling fluidized bed model validation: PIV and Pressure measurements

This study presents a comprehensive reference data set for the validation of numerical models of bubbling fluidized beds, focusing on Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and pressure measurements. A simple pseudo-2D cold flow fluidized-bed test rig was designed and constructed in-house for the purpose of conducting experiments with two distinct geometries (150 × 22 × 2000 mm and 300 × 22 × 2000 mm) and capturing a wide range of bubbling fluidization regimes. The test parameters that were varied include the two domain widths (150 mm and 300 mm), two different relative bed heights, two types of particulate materials with different densities (nutshells and glass particles), and two particle size classes (ca. 500 μ m and ca. 1700 μ m ). PIV was utilized to obtain detailed bulk particle velocity fields, with histograms used to compare these fields across different conditions. The study further linked pressure fluctuations to the bubble passing events captured in the PIV velocity fields, and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis was conducted on the bubble-passing signals to characterize the frequency content of the fluidization process. This data set serves as a critical resource for the validation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models and enhances the understanding of complex flow dynamics in bubbling fluidized beds. • Pseudo 2D modular cold flow fluidized bed test rig for pressure and velocity data. • Comprehensive validation data set for numerical models of bubbling fluidized beds. • Results for different particle materials and sizes, geometries, and bed inventories. • Histograms of velocity fields. • FFT-analysis of velocity versus pressure data.