Hydrodynamics and particle attrition and entrainment measurements for the spouting of fine particles were carried out in a conical-based cylindrical bed of diameter 0.186 m

inlet orifice diameters of 6 mm to 14 mm

and included cone angles of 45 to 80 degrees.Four different types of fine particles with diameter ranging from 0.241 mm to 0.874 mm were investigated. Four different flow regimes-fixed bed

stable spouting

unstable spouting and slugging were identified and mapped. Stable spouting could be achieved when the ratio of the orifice diameter to particle diameter was less than 19. The minimum spouting velocities measured were in agreement with those predicted by the Mathur-Gishler equation within ±15%. The solid density measurements obtained by a gamma ray densitometer showed that the solid density in the spout increased with bed height and that in the annulus was 3%—10% higher than in a loosely packed bed. It was observed that both particle attrition and entrainment increased with the increasing gas velocity and became smallest when stable and well-organized spouting was established.