Obvious electrostatic effects are commonly found in industrial fluidized bed, which influences the hydrodynamics of fluidized bed and causes security risks constantly. However, the application of external electric field can 'turn harm into benefit'. In order to investigate the hydrodynamics of gas-solids fluidized bed with applied electric field, CFD simulation coupled with the electrostatic model was carried out. Through a decoupling method, the axial electrostatic potentials profiles and particle movements in the fluidized bed were investigated. The simulations presented a Z-shaped axial profile of potential in traditional fluidized bed, which was in good agreement with the experimental data. With the application of direct current (DC) electric field, the simulations showed that the region of positive potential expanded obviously, whilst the region of negative potential was also spread. Under DC electric field, the assembling of small particles was weakened near the wall, but aggregation of small particles appeared near the central electrode. By using AC electric field, the concentration of small particles near the wall was slightly lower than that in the normal fluidized bed. According to the mean electric field distribution produced by charged particles in AC field, it was observed that the electrostatic field had different directions. In the region near the distribution plate, the electrostatic field directed towards the center, while in the region near the bed level, the direction of electrostatic field headed towards the wall. © All Rights Reserved.
