Thermal Spray Tips - Swinburne University of Technology

Compiled by Jo Ann Gan, Edited and advised by Christopher C. Berndt
Swinburne University of Technology Thermal Spray Group (SwinTS)
Please contact Prof. Christopher Berndt at cberndt @swin.edu.au for further enquiries
3.10. Fluidized-Bed Powder Feeders
Fluidized-bed powder feeders are commonly used in thermal spray processes. In these units, a “bed” of
powder is continuously agitated by a fluidizing gas, in this case the carrier gas. The intent by design is to
suspend a controlled volume of powder in a bed using a controlled volume of gas such that a sample of
powder can be drawn off at a uniform rate. To accomplish this, the bed must be in continuous motion—
that is, fluidized—and the volumes of gas and powder being removed must be continuously replaced.
Vibrators and/or gravity feed are used to assist and maintain flow from the hopper into the bed. Powder
feed rate in fluidized-bed feeders is affected by powder characteristics and particle size distribution.
Source: Process Control Equipment, Revised by Daryl E. Crawmer, Thermal Spray Technologies Inc., as
published in Handbook of Thermal Spray Technology, J.R. Davis (Ed.), ASM International, 2005, p 88.
Information and data acquired from ASM International Thermal Spray Society
website at http://asmcommunity.asminternational.org/portal/site/tss/SprayTips/
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