Transport Process Laboratory Module

EXPERIMENT 6

Flow Through Particle Layers: Fluidized Beds

1. BACKGROUND:

A fluidized bed is a fine-grained layer of solid particles (Deposition) which has been loosened by a
passage of fluid such that the particles are moveable to a certain extent. This lends the solid particle
layer properties similar to those of a liquid.

A fluidize bed can be characterized by the pressure loss (∆p) of the fluid passing through the bed.

During passage through the deposited layer, the pressure below this layer initially rises with the flow
rate (w) until the thrust exerted on the deposit is equal to its weight, causing the layer to “float”.

If the flow rate continues to rise, the layer is set in motion and attains a fluid state. From this stage, the
pressure loss remains nearly constant as the flow rate rises. From a certain flow rate onward, the
particles at the top no longer fall back onto the fluidized bed; instead, they are swept away by the fluid
stream.

Fluidized beds are employed on a widespread basis in process engineering. With their help, gaseous,
solid and liquid reaction components are mixed thoroughly and brought into close contact with each
other. This applies especially to fluidized bed firing employed for low-pollutant combustion of
problematic substance.

1.1 Pressure loss in fluidized beds

A state of equilibrium between resistance, weight and lifting force results in the following
equation for the pressure loss p occurring during passage through a swirling particle
mass:

Fluid Density

Particle Density

Particle Deposit Density

Deposit Height
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1.2 Pressure characteristic across a fluidized bed

Equilibrium between resistance, weight and lifting force applies not only at the floor, but
also at any other deposit height. The pressure loss is linearly dependent on the height H
of the deposit. As a result, the pressure drops linearly from the floor to a value of zero at
the surface. If y is the immersion in the deposit:

p(y)=

1.3 Loosening rate of the fluidized bed

The loosening rate is the speed at which the solid deposit merges with the fluidized bed.
The speed w10 of the fluid in the space between the particles can be calculated from the
Reynolds number ReI0, particle diameter and kinetic viscosity the fluid.

W I0=

As this calculation of the fluid speed applies to spherical particles, the speed in the case
of unevenly shaped particles needs to be corrected by a form factor

W= W I0 . ᵠ

The void factor indicates the proportion of cavities forming past of the deposit. This value
is calculated from the particle density ρp and the average deposit density ρps.

ɛ=1-

A state of equilibrium between the pressure loss and particle resistance indicates the
relationship between the non-dimensional characteristic values Re (Reynolds number)
and Ar (Archimedes number).

Re I0 = 42.86 (1- ɛ).

Archimedes number Ar is calculated from the density, particle diameter and viscosity of
the fluid.

Ar =

ρp = Particle density
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ρf = Fluid density

dp = Particle diameter

= Kinematic viscosity

2. OBJECTIVE:
i) To study the flow properties of deposited layers comprising different granular materials and
sizes.
ii) To study the flow properties of deposited layers off different heights.
iii) To study the flow properties of different particle materials, sizes and layer heights forming part
of fluidized beds.
iv) To determine the porosity of deposited layers

3. EQUIPMENTS
3.1 Filtration Devices
3.2 Particles Layers
a) Ballotini 180 – 300um
b) Ballotini 420 – 590 um
c) Gravel (1-2mm)

4. PROCEDURE:

1) Device Setup
4.1 During investigations of fluidized beds, flow takes place from the bottom to the top of the
filtration unit.
4.2 The water is conveyed out of the filtration unit into the overhead, open compensation tank.
4.3 The upper end of the hose on the in-flow distributor is disconnected and coupled with the
compensation tank (see Fig 1).
4.4 The upper valve on the flow distributor is closed and the lower valve opened. The water will
goes to bottom filter’s layer then into the compensation tank then to the drain.
4.5 All segments need to be filled with water to ensure out of leakage.

2) De-aeration Process

2.1 Connect the water supply and fill the system with water by opening the valve for adjusting
volumetric flow.
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2.2 The filtration unit is de-aerated via the corresponding valve on the filter crown (see Figure
1).This valve then close again when air bubbles no longer be seen in the filtration unit and
hoses.
2.3 The 2-tube manometer is de-aerated by opening the corresponding valve. The valve is closed
again when the water level has risen at the middle of the tube.
2.4 After the system has been filled with water and de-aerated, the volumetric flow adjustment
valve is closed. The system is now ready for the experiment.
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5 RESULT & DISCUSSION:

Material:____________ Particle Size :____________
Deposition layer height (dry):_________________________

Q [ml/min] h1[mm] h2[mm] ∆h [mm] S[mm] Remarks:

0 Q = Volumetric flow

100 h1 = Water column

height 1
200
h2 = Water column
300 height 2
400 S = Thickness of
deposited layer
500

600

700

800

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Questions:

1) Plot graph for pressure loss P vs Q(ml/min)

2) Plot graph for particles height S vs Q(ml/min)
3) Calculate the porosity of the particles.
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Appendix:

1- Compensation Tank
2- Drainage Hose
3- Inflow distributor
4- 2-tube Manometer
5- Pressure gauge
6- Drainage Hose
7- Inflow Line
8- Pressure Distributor
9- Flow Meter
10- Filtration Unit

Figure 1
Formulas:
1) Hydraulic Resistance:

∆p = Pressure loss

A = Flow cross-section

L = Dynamic viscosity

L = Volumetric flow

2)

ɛ = Porosity
VL = Void Fraction
Vs = Solid Volume