Abstract While the influence of particle size and geometry on the dynamics of binary fluidised beds have been widely studied, the role of particle shape remains poorly understood. Using 3D-printed PLA particles with geometries chosen to allow significant alterations in geometry while maintaining a constant volume and density, we are able to isolate and hence systematically study the influence of particles’ shape on their spatial distribution throughout the system. Using Positron Emission Particle Tracking, we track the motion of particles throughout the full, three-dimensional volume of the system, thereby characterising the distribution of PLA particles within the bed. Despite varying the aspect ratio of particles by more than two orders of magnitude, only minimal changes in particle distribution are observed. Our results also give potentially valuable new insight into the internal behaviours of sand-plastic systems representative of those used in the pyrolytic recycling of plastic waste.

中文翻译：

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二元气体流化床中的颗粒分布：形状很重要——但并不重要

摘要 虽然颗粒尺寸和几何形状对二元流化床动力学的影响已得到广泛研究，但颗粒形状的作用仍然知之甚少。使用具有选择的几何形状的 3D 打印 PLA 颗粒，允许在保持恒定体积和密度的同时显着改变几何形状，我们能够隔离并系统地研究颗粒形状对其在整个系统中的空间分布的影响。使用正电子发射粒子跟踪，我们可以在整个系统的三维空间中跟踪粒子的运动，从而表征床内 PLA 粒子的分布。尽管粒子的纵横比变化超过两个数量级，但观察到的粒子分布变化很小。