ABSTRACT\SUMMARY

This experiment is about fluidization of a bed of solid by passing a fluid,

usually a
gas upwards through a bed of particles supported on a distributor. Fluidization or
fluidizing, converts a bed of solid particles into an expanded mass that has many
properties of a liquid. As a fluid is passed upward through a bed of particles,
pressure loss
due to frictional resistance increases as fluid flow increases. At a point, whereby
the
upward drag force exerted by the fluid on the particle equal to apparent weight of
particles in the bed, fluidization occurs.

The size of solid particle which can be fluidized varies greatly from less
than
1µ m to 6cm. It is generally concluded that particles distributed in sizes between
150µ m
and 10µ m are the best for smooth fluidization (least formation of large bubbles).
Large
particles cause instability and result in slugging or massive surges. Small particles
(less
than 20µ m) frequently even though dry, act as if damp, forming agglomerates or
fissures
in the bed, or spouting. Adding finer sized particles to a coarse bed or coarse sized
particles to a bed of fines usually results in better fluidization.

The upward velocity of the gas is usually between 0.15m/s and 6m/s. This
velocity is based upon the flow through the empty vessel as is referred to as the
superficial velocity. As the velocity of flow increases, the particles rearrange
themselves
to offer less resistance to the fluid flow and the bed will tend to expand unless it is
composed of large particles (mean diameter > 1mm). The expansion continues
until a
stage is reached where the drag force exerted on the particles will be sufficient to
support
the weight of the particles in the bed. The fluid/particle systems then begin to
exhibit
fluid like properties and it will flow under the influence of a hydrostatic head. This
is the
point of incipient fluidization and the gas velocity needed to achieve this is referred
to as
the minimum fluidization velocity, Umf.

Beyond this velocity, the pressure drop across the bed will be
approximately
equal to the weight of the bed per unit area. The effective∆ P excludes the
hydrostatic
pressure drop across the bed which can be neglected in gas fluidized systems
operating at
atmospheric pressure. It is likely, however that this pressure drop will be exceeded
just
prior to fluidization with gas fluidized systems in order to overcome cohesive
forces

between the particles and break down the residual packing and interlocking of
particles
within the bed.
 The behavior of fluidization is depends on the types of the particles
composed in
the vessel. Geldart (1973) classified powders into four groups according to their
fluidization properties at ambient condition. There are 4 stages of particles that are
(A)
aerated, (B) bubble, (C) cohesive and (D) dense. In this experiment, we are
considering
with a coarse sand which is in group B, Ballotini which is in group A and
Glutinous flour
which is in group C.

From this experiment, we can obtain the bed expansion, bed pressure drop
and the
flow rate of the fluid. By the equation given in the theory, superficial gas velocity,
Umf
andεmf for all cases can be calculated. Then only, we plotted two graphs which are
bed
pressure drop against superficial gas velocity and bed expansion against superficial
gas
velocity for all cases. The Umf predicted from the graph then is being compared
with the
calculated one.

INTRODUCTION

The upward flow of fluid through a bed of particles is a situation

encountered
both in nature, as with the natural movement of ground water, crude petroleum or
natural
gas, through porous media, and in industrial operations such as backwashing
filters, ion-
exchange processes, extraction of soluble components from raw materials and for
certain
types of chemical reactor. It is well known that if the particles are loosely packed
and the
pressure drop due to the flow through the bed is equivalent to the weight of the
bed, the
phenomenon of fluidization occurs. The fluidized state occurs naturally is so-called
‘quick sand’ and industrially, use is made of the high rate of solids mixing that
accompanies fluidization for various operations such as drying, coating, heat
transfer and
chemical reaction.

This equipment is designed to allow the study of the characteristics of flow

through both fixed and fluidized bed of solid particles. Although the majority of
fixed
and fluidized bed situations encountered by practicing engineers are three
dimensional, in
order that students can readily observe the important phenomenon of bubbling that
occurs
in gas-solid systems when the gas velocity is in the excess of that required for
fluidization. The transparent walls allow studies to be made of bubble behavior in
the
gas-solid system.

OBJECTIVES
There are three objectives of doing the fluidization experiment:
∗ To determine the pressure drop and bed expansion through a fixed and
fluidized bed.
∗ To verify the Ergun equation (1952), Wen & Yu equation (1966) and
Baeyens & Geldart equation (1977).
∗ To observe the onset of fluidization

OBJECTIVES
There are three objectives of doing the fluidization experiment:
∗ To determine the pressure drop and bed expansion through a fixed and
fluidized bed.
∗ To verify the Ergun equation (1952), Wen & Yu equation (1966) and
Baeyens & Geldart equation (1977).
∗ To observe the onset of fluidization
THEORY

a) Pressure drop across the bed,∆ P

In order to determine the pressure drop through a fixed bed fro any flow
condition, the Ergun equation (1952) can be used:

(
)
(
)
3
2
3
2
1
75
.
1
1
150
ε
ε
ρ
ε
ε
µ
p
g
p
dU
dU
H
P
−
+
−
=

∆
−
Where:
=
p
d
Size of particles
(µ m)
=
H
Height of bed
(m)
=
µ
Viscosity of air
(N/m2s)
=
U
Average superficial velocity (m/s)
=
ε
Bed voidage
(-)
=
g
ρ
Density of air
(kg/m3)
=
∆PPressure drop across the bed (N/m2)
Re = average Reynold’s number based on superficial velocity which is
dimensionless
Re =(
)
ε
µρ
−
1
p
gUd
and if Re < 10 than laminar flow

Re > 2000 turbulent flow

If the flow rate Q is measured in liters/s and U is the average superficial velocity
in m/s, then:

A
Q
U =
Where A = Bed cross sectional area
Theoretically, at incipient fluidization;
AM
P
1
.
0
=
∆
WhereP
∆is in cm water gauge.
Pressure drop,∆ P
Superficial gas velocity, U
∴Re =(
)
ε
µρ
−
1
p
gUd
and if Re < 10 than laminar flow
 Re > 2000 turbulent flow
If the flow rate Q is measured in liters/s and U is the average superficial velocity
in m/s, then:

A
Q
U =
Where A = Bed cross sectional area
Theoretically, at incipient fluidization;
AM
P
1
.
0
=
∆
WhereP
∆is in cm water gauge.
Pressure drop,∆ P
Superficial gas velocity, U
Umf
The pressure drop at fluidization can also be predicted by using the equation:
(
)(
)g
H
P
g
g
ρ
ρ
ε
−
−
=
∆
1
Where
g
ρ
=
density of the particle
g
=
gravitational force
b) Minimum Fluidization velocity, Umf
For particles, dpi > 100µ m, Wen and Yu (1966) can be used to find Umf
Ar = 1060Remf +
687
.
1
159mf
Or
(
)
[
]
1
10
59
.
3
1
7
.
33
Re
5
.
0
5
−
+
=
−Ar
x
mf
For spheres ranging from 0.01 < Remf < 1000
5
AM
P
1
.
0
=
DISCUSSIONS

Fluidization is a process when a fluid is passed upward trough a bed of

particles the pressure loss in the fluid due to the frictional resistance with increases
with increasing fluid flow. A point is reached when the upward drag force exerted
by the fluid on the particles is equal to the apparent weight of particles in the bed.
At this point the particles are lifted by the fluid, the separation of the particle
increases, and the bed become fluidized. The superficial fluid velocity at which the
packed bed becomes a fluidized bed is known as the minimum fluidization
velocity. This velocity increases with particle size and particle density and is
affected by fluid properties.

For the first types of particles which is coarse grade sand, the graph shows
a little increasement in the pressure drop when the superficial velocity gas also
increase. The fluidization starts when it reaches minimum fluidization velocity
which is about 0.0715m/s.

The second type is finer sand or ballotini, from the graph we can saw that
the pressure drop also increase as the superficial gas velocity increased. For this
case, the minimum fluidization velocity is 0.0682m/s. For this two types of
particles, bubbles continue to grow, never achieving a maximum size.

Lastly is the glutinous flour, fluidization did not occur in this case. The bed
not expanding and resist aeration. This is because the flour is cohesive and the
structure is so strong upon fluidization. Beside that, it also because the interaction
force between the particles is strong if compared to the hydronamic force by the
fluiding gas.

For Glutinous Flour, fluidization did not occur because group C particles
exhibit cohesive tendencies. The structures are so strong which upon fluidization,
cracks and rat hole is form and at a given pressure different, the bed not expanding
and resist aeration.1

Other than that, it is very difficult to fluidize because the inter particle forces is
higher

than hydrodynamic forces exerted on the particles by the fluidizing gas. However,
group
C fluidization can be improved by mechanical help such as include a vibrator or a
mixer.
Lastly, for bed voidage at minimum fluidization velocity, εmf for sand is 0.321387
while εmf for Ballotini is 0.383097. This shows that bed voidage for Ballotini is
higher and

makes it more porous than sand