Particles Interactions Resulting in Electrostatic Charge Generation in Gas-Solid Fluidized Beds

In any gas-solid processing system, generation of electrostatic charges is inevitable due to particles interactions (i.e., continuous contacts between particles, and the particles and the containing vessel). Electrostatic charging could in turn result in problems of inter-particle cohesion or vessel wall adhesion. The extent of the net exchange of electrostatic charge between any surfaces depends on various parameters including the materials electrical properties, surface chemistry, environmental conditions and many more. This talk will focus on electrostatic charge generation in gas-solid fluidized beds and issues of particle agglomeration and reactor fouling in some commercial operations, and presents common measurement techniques applied for fluidizing particles electrostatic charge characterization as well as a brief summary of parameters that could affect the degree of particles charging.