Objectives:

 To define what is fluidization.

 To identify the types of fluidization.
 To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of fluidization.

Introduction:

Fluidization is a process in which solids are caused to behave like a fluid by blowing gas or
liquid upwards through the solid-filled reactor. Fluidization is widely used in commercial
operations; the applications can be roughly divided into two categories, i.e.

•Physical operations, such as transportation, heating, absorption, mixing of fine powder, etc.
and

•Chemical operations, such as reactions of gases on solid catalysts and reactions of solids
with gases etc.

The fluidized bed is one of the best known contacting methods used in the processing
industry, for instance in oil refinery plants. Among its chief advantages are that the particles
are well mixed leading to low temperature gradients, they are suitable for both small and
large scale operations and they allow continuous processing. There are many well established
operations that utilize this technology, including cracking and reforming of hydrocarbons,
coal carbonization and gasification, ore roasting, Fisher-Tropsch synthesis, coking, aluminum
production, melamine production, and coating preparations. The application of fluidization is
also well recognized in nuclear engineering as a unit operation for example, in uranium
extraction, nuclear fuel fabrication, reprocessing of fuel and waste disposal.

The term “fluidization” and “fluidized bed” are used to describe the condition of fully
suspended particles, since the suspension behaves like a dense fluid. If the bed is tilted, the
top surface remains horizontal and large objects will either float or sink in the bed depending
on their density relative to suspension. The fluidized solids can be drained from the bed
through pipes and valves just like a liquid, and this fluidity is one of the main advantages in
the use of fluidization for handling solids.

Fluidized beds are used widely in chemical processing industries for separations, rapid mass
and heat transfer operations, and catalytic reactions. A typical fluidized bed is a cylindrical
column that contains particles and through which fluid, either gaseous or liquid, flows. In the
case of fluidized bed reactors, the particles would contain a catalyst, and for separations, the
particles might be an absorbent or adsorbent. The velocity of the fluid is sufficiently high to
suspend, or fluidize, the particles within the column, providing a large surface area for the
fluid to contact, which is the chief advantage of fluidized beds.

Types of Fluidization:

 Particulate Fluidization
- This occurs mainly with liquid-solid system.
- Occurs at low velocity
- Bed maintains its uniform character.
- Froude number less than Unity
 Aggregative Fluidization
- Also known as bubbling fluidization.
- This occurs with gas-solid liquid fluidized system.
- Occurs at high velocity.
- As gas velocity increases, a fraction of the gas will pass through the bed in the
form of bubbles.
- The velocity at which the bubble first form is known as the minimum bubbling
velocity.
- Froude number greater than unity.

Condition for Fluidization:

  Once the bed is fluidized, the pressure drop across the bed stays constant, but the bed
height continues to increase with increasing flow.
 The superficial velocity need to support a bed of particles is much less than the
terminal velocity for individual particles.
 The final bed height may be greater than the initial value for the fixed bed.
 For fast fluidization flow regime whereby there is a relatively dense suspension, but
no distinct upper surface, and a superficial velocity generally at least 3 m/s.
 For fluidization, the particle size is in range of 30 to 300 micrometer.

Application of Fluidization:

Most of the fluidization applications use one or more of the three important characteristic of
fluidized bed:

 Fluidized solids can be easily transferred between reactors.

 The intense mixing within a fluidized bed means that its temperature is uniform.
 There is excellent heat transfer between a fluidized bed and heat exchangers
immersed in the bed.

Advantage of Fluidization:

 The chief advantage of fluidization are that the solid is vigorously agitated by the
fluid passing through the bed, and the mixing of the solid ensures that there are
practically no temperature gradients in the bed even with quite exothermic or
endothermic reactions.
 The smooth, liquid-like flow of particles allows continuous automatically controlled
operations with easy of handling.
 The rapid mixing of solids leads to nearly isothermal conditions throughout the
reaction; hence the operation can be controlled simply and reliably.
 It is suitable to large-scale operation.

Disadvantage of Fluidization:

 The main disadvantage of gas-solid fluidization is the uneven contacting of gas and
solid.
 Erosion of vessel and pipes from abrasion by particles.
  Attrition of solids. Because of attrition, the size of the solid particles is getting
reduced.
 The rapid mixing of solids in the bed leads to non uniform in the reactor.

Conclusion

Fluidization is an operation by which fine solids are transformed into a fluid like state
through contact with gas or liquid. The term fluidization and fluidized bed are used to
describe the condition of fully suspended particle, since the suspension behaves as a dense
fluid.

Fluidization refers to those gas-solids and liquid-solids system in which the solid phase is
subjected to behave more or less like a fluid by the upwelling current of gas or liquid stream
moving through the bed of solid particles.

References

[1] R.H. Perry, D.W. Green, and J.O. Maloney. Perrys Chemical Engineers
Handbook. McGraw-Hill, New York, 7th edition, 1997.

[2] S. Ergun and A.A. Orning. Fluid flow through packed columns. Chemical
Engineering Progress, 48:89–94, 1952.

[] W.E. McCabe, J.C. Smith, and P. Harriott. Unit Operations of Chemical

Engineering. McGraw Hill, New York, 2001.
 UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO

MATINA CAMPUS

A Written Report in

Introduction to Particle Technology

CHE 439

FLUIDIZATION

Submitted To:

ENGR. CRIJAMAICA OCEÑA , CHE

Submitted By:

QUENNE A. BELOCURA

February 10, 2020