Granular temperature distribution in a gas fluidized bed of hollow microparticles prior to onset of bubbling

It has been unclear whether bubbles are required to induce particle velocity fluctuations in gas fluidized beds (FBs). We show that bubbles are not necessary by applying diffusing-wave spectroscopy to particles whose minimum bubbling velocity is approximately 5 times that of the minimum fluidization velocity. Fluctuations are first observed at or just above fluidization and increase in magnitude with superficial velocity. The distribution of velocity fluctuations in the bed is also presented: they are symmetrical about the centreline where they are maximal and increase with height above the distributor.