Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

While the original concept of conventional gas-solid fluidization has been ""expended"" to high-velocity fluidization (by increasing velocity), to liquid- and gas-liquid-solid fluidization (by changing the fluidization media), and to downer fluidization (by changing flow direction), the concept of inverse fluidization with liquid fluidizing downwards lighter particles (which would be otherwise floating) has only received limited attention. In particular, no study has been conducted for high-velocity inverse fluidization. This new inverse liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed, i-LSCFB, proposed as the first objective here, would have two columns interconnected at the two ends - a downer where both liquid and lighter-than-liquid particles flow currently downwards as the liquid velocity is higher than the particle terminal velocity, and a riser where liquid flow downwards while particles flowing upwards because the fluidization velocity is lower than the particle terminal velocity. Once developed, it will be the world's first time and can be immediately used in the fluidized bed wastewater treatment technology invented by the applicant - to significantly reduce its energy consumption, but can also be used in other areas especially for bio-dapplications. The second proposed project is to develop new and novel applications based on an existing ultrafine powder coating technology, which we have developed over the past 10 years and seen its commercialization with significant benefits. Market study has clearly shown a high demand for new functional coatings which neither liquid nor conventional powder coating can provide. Based on the existing platform technology, we propose to develop new powder coating technologies for antimicrobial coating, biocompatible coating and hydrophobic coatings for applications in medicine, dentistry, and electrical electric power transmission. The applicant has had extensive past experience in fluidization and particle technology with demonstrated success, and the proposed research represents their natural extension. The proposed research will also provide extensive training opportunities for HQPs for Canada, following the >100 HQPs trained in the past 6 years.