FLOW THROUGH POROUS MEDIUM

﴾ DARCY’S LAW APPARATUS)

OBJECTIVE

Study of flow of fluid through porous medium.

AIM
1. To verify Darcy’s law
2. To find out the coefficient of permeability of the given porous medium.
THEORY
Darcy's law states that there is a linear relationship between flow velocity (v)
and hydraulic gradient
(i) for any given packed bed under steady laminar flow conditions (Re<1) i.e.
inertial forces are less than viscous forces. If the rate of flow is Q (volume/time)
through cross-sectional area (A) of the bed,
Darcy's Law can be expressed as
v = q/A = k.i
where
k = coefficient of permeability i = hf /L (hydraulic gradient)
hf = Head loss between two sections
L = length of the bed between two sections

The value of k depends on the average size of the pores and is related to the
distribution of particle sizes, particle shape and structure of packing. It is a
measure of the ease that the packing of the bed provides to the flow of water
through its pores.
For non-laminar flow regimes, Darcy’s Law can be modified to V = ki^n.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
The set-up consists of a cylindrical column filled with silica gel. Water
from the sump tank is pumped by a centrifugal pump and it enters in
the column from the bottom. After passing through the column water
comes out from the top of the column and returns back to the sump. In
this way the system is operated in close-circuit unit. Flow of water through
the packed bed can be regulated using control valves provided in the
water line. Discharge can be measured using stopwatch and measuring
tank, provided. Pressure at different positions is measured by operating
the pressure taps provided in the column and are connected to the
differential manometer.

CALCULATIONS AND RESULTS

Manometer Manometer Water
Reading Reading Level Time
S.No. L = 0.2 m L = 0.4m H(m) t(sec)
1 0.2 0.5 0.10 38.0
2 0.3 0.9 0.11 37.0
3 0.4 0.9 0.10 24.3
4 0.6 1.2 0.10 16.0
5 0.7 1.8 0.10 11.0
6 0.9 2.0 0.10 10.5
7 1.0 2.6 0.10 9.9

L=0.2m L=0.2m L=0.2m L=0.4m L=0.4m L=0.4m

Volumetric flow Velocity Head loss Head loss
S.No. Q(m^3/s) V(m/s) hf(m) i k hf(m) i k
1 0.000186 0.016 0.025 0.126 0.1292 0.063 0.158 0.1034
2 0.000210 0.018 0.038 0.189 0.0973 0.113 0.284 0.0649
3 0.000290 0.025 0.050 0.252 0.1010 0.113 0.284 0.0898
4 0.000441 0.039 0.076 0.378 0.1023 0.151 0.378 0.1023
5 0.000641 0.056 0.088 0.441 0.1275 0.227 0.567 0.0992
6 0.000671 0.059 0.113 0.567 0.1039 0.252 0.630 0.0935
7 0.000712 0.062 0.126 0.630 0.0992 0.328 0.819 0.0763

Area of measuring tank, a = 0.0705 m2

Area of inlet of the column, A = 0.011397 m2
a∗H 0.0705∗0.1
Volumetric flow rate, Q = t
= 38
= 0.000186 m 3 /s
Q 0.000186
Velocity, V = A = 0.011397 =0.016 m/s
For L = 0.2 m
12.6∗0.2
Head loss, h f (m) = 12.6 * h = 100
=0.025 m
 hf 0.025
Hydraulic gradient, i = = = 0.126
L 0.2
V 0.016
Coefficient of permeability, k = i = 0.126 =0.129
For L = 0.4 m
12.6∗0.5
Head loss, h f (m) = 12.6 * h = 100
=0.063 m
h 0.063
Hydraulic gradient, i = f = = 0.158
L 0.4
V 0.016
Coefficient of permeability, k = i = 0.158 =0.103
 HYDRODYNAMICS OF FLUIDIZED BED
OBJECTIVE

To study the hydrodynamics of fluidized bed

AIM

1. To determine pressure drop as a function of superficial velocity

2. To determine minimum fluidization velocity from experimental data and

compare it with theory

3. To determine pressure drop per unit bed height as a function of superficial

velocity
THEORY
Fluidization occurs when quantity of a solid particulate matter is placed under
appropriate conditions to cause a solid or a fluid mixture behave like a fluid.
Fluidized beds are known for their high heat and mass transfer coefficients due
to the high surface area to volume ratio of fine particles, because of this
application, they are widely used in industrial processes for separation, Rapid
mass and heat transfer operations and catalytic reactions. They are also used for
filtration wastewater management and other such applications. In these cases,
the interest centers around the pressure drop as a function of volumetric flow
rate or superficial velocity. If the particles in the bed are loose and there is
sufficient volume in the device containing particles, the particles may fluidized
at certain flow rates.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
The apparatus consists of a glass column packed with spherical glass beads
of 3mm internal diameter size and the water flows through the
Rotameter, fitted in pipeline. The pump takes water from the water tank
and passes to the column and flow rate is controlled by using the ball
valve and the gate valve. Pressure tapping is connected to the inlet and
outlet of the glass column, pressure at these points can be recorded with
the help of manometer connected to the tapping. Flow rate is measured
with the help of a rotameter. The height of bed can be noted with the
help of a scale provided behind the column.

CALCULATIONS AND RESULTS

Delta R
S.No. Height LPH R1 R2 Delta R -Error
1 10.5 200 14.4 11.6 2.8 1.7
2 10.6 300 15.1 10.7 4.4 3.3
3 12 400 15.3 10.6 4.7 3.6
4 13 500 15.3 10.6 4.7 3.6
5 16 660 15.3 10.6 4.7 3.6
6 17.5 760 15.4 10.5 4.9 3.8
7 19.5 840 15.4 10.5 4.9 3.8
8 23 1000 15.4 10.5 4.9 3.8
9 19.5 840 15.4 10.5 4.9 3.8
10 18 760 15.4 10.5 4.9 3.8
11 16 660 15.4 10.5 4.9 3.8
12 13.5 500 15.4 10.5 4.9 3.8
13 12 400 15.3 10.6 4.7 3.6
14 10.7 300 15.2 10.7 4.5 3.4
15 10.7 200 14.5 11.3 3.2 2.1

LPH Q(m^3/s) Delta P Delta P/z Epsilon(E) U(m/s) Re

200 5.556E-05 98.29 9.361 0.370 2.83E-02 1.4E+03
300 8.333E-05 190.81 18.001 0.376 4.25E-02 2.1E+03
400 1.111E-04 208.15 17.346 0.449 5.66E-02 2.8E+03
500 1.389E-04 208.15 16.012 0.491 7.08E-02 3.5E+03
660 1.833E-04 208.15 13.010 0.587 9.34E-02 4.7E+03
760 2.111E-04 219.72 12.555 0.622 1.08E-01 5.4E+03
840 2.333E-04 219.72 11.267 0.661 1.19E-01 5.9E+03
1000 2.778E-04 219.72 9.553 0.712 1.42E-01 7.1E+03
840 2.333E-04 219.72 11.267 0.661 1.19E-01 5.9E+03
760 2.111E-04 219.72 12.206 0.633 1.08E-01 5.4E+03
660 1.833E-04 219.72 13.732 0.587 9.34E-02 4.7E+03
500 1.389E-04 219.72 16.275 0.510 7.08E-02 3.5E+03
400 1.111E-04 208.15 17.346 0.449 5.66E-02 2.8E+03
300 8.333E-05 196.59 18.373 0.382 4.25E-02 2.1E+03
200 5.556E-05 121.42 11.348 0.382 2.83E-02 1.4E+03
Zero error = 1.1 cm
Initial height of static bed ( Z o ¿ = 10.5 cm
Inside column diameter = 50 mm
Density of manometric fluid ( ρm ¿=1590 Kg /m3
Density of water = 1000 Kg/m 3
Viscosity of water = 0.00100 Kg/ms
V1 = initial volume of solid in measuring cylinder = 100 ml
V2 = volume of water added = 42 ml
V3 = final volume = 105 ml
F∗10−3 200∗10−3 −5 3
Volumetric flow rate, Q = = =5.55∗10 m /s
3600 3600
V 1+V 2−V 3 100+42−105
ϵ 0= = = 0.37
V1 100
Z0 10.5
ϵ =1− ( 1−ϵ o )=1− (1−0.37) = 1-0.624 = 0.370
Z 10.5
π 2
A = 4 ∗D = 1.963*10−3 m2
Q 5.55∗10−5
U (superficial fluid velocity) = A = = 0.028 m/s
1.963∗10−3
D∗U∗ρ 0.028∗1000∗50∗10−3
Re = μ
= = 1400
1∗10−3

log(Delta P) vs log(U)
2.4
2.3
2.2
log(Delta P)

2.1
2
1.9
1.8
5 37 25 15 03 97 92 85 92 97 03 15 25 37 55
.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
log(U)
 log(z) vs log(U)
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
log(z)

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
5

5
.5

.3

.2

.1

.0

.9

.9

.8

.9

.9

.0

.1

.2

.3

.5
-1

-1

-1

-1

-1

-0

-0

-0

-0

-0

-1

-1

-1

-1

-1
log(U)

log(DeltaP/z) vs log(U)
1.4
1.2
1
log(DeltaP/z)

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
5 37 25 15 03 97 92 85 92 97 03 15 25 37 55
.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -0 -0 -0 -0 -0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
log(U)

Discussion:
2016A1PS0515G – SHIVAM DUBEY
We learnt about Darcy's law and tried to verify it in the first part by finding
coefficient of permeability. The inverse of the slope of the curve (Hydraulic Gradient
vs Velocity) gives the coefficient of permeability (k). We pass water at different flow
rates that is different superficial velocities through a column stuffed with porous
material, in order to study its relationship with hydraulic gradient by measuring
the same for full and half length. A mercury based differential manometer was
used for the same. Then we plotted the graph and found a linear relationship
between the velocity and hydraulic gradient, thus, verifying the law.
In the second part of the experiment, we worked to study the functioning of a
fluidized packed bed and to obtain the minimum fluidization velocity of the bed.
At this velocity, the particles of the packing start behaving like a fluid and begin
to flow under the influence of flow of water. We used CCl4 in the manometer to
study the pressure at top and bottom of the column as CCl4 is immiscible with
water. We saw an increasing trend in pressure drop till a point which
corresponded to minimum fluidization velocity and a gradual decrease in
pressure drop further. When we tried to retrace the path back by reducing the
velocity of fluid, we noticed that the same path was not traced as the bed was
now disturbed and not at the same initial conditions.

2016A1PS0519G -SENTHILNATHAN AK
Darcy’s law helps us understand the flow of a fluid through a porous medium.
The law states that the mean apparent velocity is directly proportional to the
pressure gradient along the length of the apparatus under certain set of
conditions. The pressure gradient is also called the hydraulic gradient. The
condition for Darcy’s law to be applicable is that the flow should be in the range
of Re<1, where the inertial forces dominate the viscous forces. The coefficient
of proportionality in the expression is defined as the permeability coefficient. It
indicates how easily a liquid will move through the solid. It is dependant on the
viscosity of the fluid, fluidity of the fluid and its density. The differential
manometer is used to measure the pressure gradient in this experiment. It
measures the difference in pressure between two places directly. Centrifugal
pumps are used to pump water through the cylindrical bed which contains silica
gel. Ball valves and gate valves are used to regulate the flow for each flow rates.
Fluidization is a process that makes a steady state solid like particles move like
dynamic state fluid like particles. It is the balance of gravity, drag and buoyancy
forces. The minimum value of the fluid velocity at which the fluidization starts
to occur is the minimum fluidization velocity. In this case we can observe
particulate fluidization because we can see that the particles are individually
suspended. Advantages of fluidization are that fluids are easily transferrable,
since fluidized bed is uniform in concentration temperature is also uniform
across the reactors, there is excellent heat transfer between the fluidized bed and
the heat exchangers immersed in the bed. U tube manometer was used to read
the pressure gradient.
Superficial velocity is the velocity of the fluid inside a cylinder or a pipe when
there is no hindrance to the flow, but in cases of porous mediums there is
always a hindrance observed due to the membranes and the actual velocity we
measure is higher than the superficial velocity.

2016A1PS0525G – SUSHANT
In the first part of the experiment, our objective was to verify the Darcy’s Law
and obtain coefficient of permeability. We performed the experiment for
different flow rates and went on to plot hydraulic gradient vs velocity. From the
slope of the graph we obtained the coefficient of permeability(k).
For the second part of the experiment we studied the fluidization of a packed
bed. We learnt why the bed gets fluidized and the concept of minimum
fluidization velocity. We obtained and plotted the data for pressure drop vs
superficial velocity and bed height vs superficial velocity. From the graph we
obtained the minimum fluidization velocity.