Fluidization of molten salt fluid-particles using low density ratio kinetic theory of granular flow

[Display omitted] •A low density ratio-based kinetic theory of granular flow (KTGF) was used.•Hydrodynamics of molten salt fluid and particles were simulated.•Two types of transition fluidization was found in molten salt fluidized bed.•Effects of molten salt fluid and solid particle parameters were analyzed. To deduce and analyze the hydrodynamics of molten salt fluid and particles, computational simulations were performed using a low density ratio kinetic theory of granular flow with two-fluid model in a fluidized bed. Two types of transition fluidization of molten salt fluid-particle mixtures were found in the fluidized bed. One represented the coexistence of wave-like flow at the bottom regime and large scale turbulent regime with chunk-like flow at the bed upper. The other characterized the coexistence of particulate fluidization near the bottom regime and particle aggregations at the upper part along bed height. The molten salt fluid-particle mixtures transited from particulate fluidization to transition state with increasing molten salt fluid temperatures, inlet fluid velocities and particle diameters and densities. The computed expansion heights and fluid volume fractions agreed with measured data in a water-particles fluidized bed.