Also available on Youtube.
About This Webinar
Presented by Dr. Ted Knowlton of PSRI at the 2026 Barracuda Virtual Reactor Users’ Conference.
This year marks the 100th Anniversary of commercial fluidized beds. So, it is a good time to reflect on what has been done, describe the present status of fluidization and predict how fluidized beds will influence the industries of the future. From the first commercial Winkler coal gasifier, FCC development, Geldart’s Particle Classification and fluidization’s adoption by many different areas in the last several decades, the historical development of fluidized systems will be presented. The significant benefits that fluidized bed reactors have brought to the chemical and petrochemical industries over this time will also be discussed. Major fluidized-bed processes today will then be examined as well as what techniques researchers are using to improve their understanding of fluidized systems. The general status of modeling of fluidized systems at present will also be addressed. Finally, the future of fluidized beds based on developing trends in research and industry will be discussed. There is significant interest in using very fine, cohesive particles (less than 30 microns) in fluidized beds and studying the related field of interparticle forces. These areas and other areas of future interest will be examined.
About the Speaker
Dr. Ted Knowlton is a Technical Consultant and Fellow at Particulate Solid Research, Inc. (PSRI), an international, industry-based consortium for fluidization and solids transport research. Dr. Knowlton retired as President of PSRI in 2010. He headed the Gas Technology Institute’s fluidization research and consulting group for over 25 years before becoming President of PSRI. Dr. Knowlton retired as President of PSRI in 2010 and has been a Fellow and Technical Consultant from that time until now. He has conducted research in high-pressure and/or high-temperature gasificateion and catalytic fluidization processes, standpipes, cyclones, gas-solid flow systems, pneumatic conveying, non-mechanical valves and is the developer of the L-valve, a nonmechanical device that controls solids flow in transport systems. Dr. Knowlton is recognized as an authority in the field of fluidization fluid-solid contacting and solids transport. He is the author or co-author of over 150 technical papers and chapters in the fields of fluidization and solids transfer, and consults extensively for industrial clients in these areas.