Measuring the velocity of sand particles in an air/particle two-phase flow:A comparison of several commonly used methods

The velocity of blown sand particles is an important parameter in aeolian movement （a special case of gas particle two-phase flow） and has ever been a topic of interest. At present, several techniques have been applied in measuring velocity of the blown sand particles. This paper reviews the measurement results of several commonly used methods： photoelectric cell method, high-speed photographic method, Particle Dynamics Analyzer （PDA） method and Particle Image Velocimetry （PIV） method. Photoelectric cell method, high-speed photograph method and PDA method are useful in studying the velocity distribution of particles. PIV is a whole-flow-field technique and a useful tool to study the average velocity field in a target area. These methods got some similar results but considerable differences also exist. They have come to similar conclusions on the velocity distributions at a single height but direct measurement results with respect to the velocity distribution very close to the surface are still scarce except some PDA results. The magnitude of measured mean particle velocity differs greatly. The relationship obtained by different methods between mean particle velocity and wind velocity, particle size and possibly other influencing factors also differs considerably. Although several authors have proposed similar power functions to describe the variation with height of the mean particle velocity, the predicted results have wide differences. Each technique is based on some unique principles, and has its advantages and disad- vantages. To make full use of different techniques, a lot of work needs be done to validate them. Developing a reliable technique to measure the velocity of blown particles is still a necessary task in aeolian research.

Motion behavior of particles in air-solid magnetically stabilized fluidized beds for separation

In order to study the settling mechanism of particles in an air-solid magnetically stabilized fluidized bed(MSFB) for separation,we carried out free settling and quasi-zero settling tests on the tracing particles.The results show that the main resistance forces as the tracing particles settled in an air-solid MSFB were motion resistance force and yield force.The motion resistance and yield forces greatly hindered the free settling of the particles by greatly decreasing the acceleration for settling process of the particles.The acceleration decreased from 3022.62 cm/s 2 to zero in 0.1 s,and in the end,the particles stopped in the air-solid MSFB.The yield force on particles increased with increasing the magnetic field intensity,resulting in decrease of the quasi-zero settling displacement.However,the yield force on particles decreased with increasing the fluidized air velocity,leading to increase of the quasi-zero settling displacement.When the structure and operating parameters of the air-solid MSFB were set up,the yield stress on particles stopped in an air-solid MSFB was a function of diameter and density of particles.The settling displacements of equal diameter particles increased with increasing their densities,and the settling displacements of equal density particles increased with increasing their diameters.