Hydraulic Studies for the Fluid-Bed Reactor

The hydraulics of water-fluidized beds of steel balls up to -in. in diameter were studied to investigate parameters of bed homogeneity and fluid flow relationships for the fluid-bed nuclear reactor concept. Bed homogeneity was influenced primarily by flow distribution at the bed inlet and static bed depth. Flow rates were correlated successfully with fluidized bed conditions using relationships previously developed for beds of smaller solids.