Fluidization Ded Definition and Used

A fluidized bed is a state of a two-phase mixture of particulate solid material

and fluid, which is widely used in many modern technologies for efficient
implementation of various physical and chemical processes. Fluidized beds
have been used in technological processes such as: cracking and reforming of
hydrocarbons (oil), carbonization and gasification of coal, polyethylene
manufacturing, limestone calcining, aluminum anhydride production,
granulation, vinil-chloride production, combustion of waste, nuclear fuel
preparation, combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels, drying, adsorption,
cooling, heating, freezing, conveying, storing and thermal treating of various
particulate solid materials.
The term "fluidized bed" is unavoidably connected to the term "particulate
solid material". Particulate materials are mechanical mixtures of multitude of
solid particles. Natural particulate materials originate from many long-term
natural processes: heating, cooling, thermal dilatation, coliding, crushing,
chopping up, atmospheric changes, river erosion and erosion caused by sea
waves. Many technological processes also produce particlate solid material:
grinding, chopping up, milling, evaporation, crystalization, spraying and
drying. Particulate materials can also be of organic (plant) origin: fruits and
seeds.
The Difference Between a Bubbling Fluidized Bed and a
Fluidized Bed
In a Bubbling Fluidized Bed.
the particles which after a formation of clusters of solids exhibit properties of
liquid... that is they move along with the flow of the fluid in the direction when
the external plug or pressure valve is activated, these clusters of solids can be

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assumed to possess very high velocity than that of initial solids in this
conditions.
In a Fluidized Bed
A fluidized bed is a state which is obtained on introduction of pressurised fluid
to help the solid particulate matter to exhibit fluidic properties. This results in
the medium then having many properties and characteristics of normal fluids,
such as the ability to free-flow under gravity, or to be pumped using fluid type
technologies.
The major difference is that there are various methodologies of introduction
of fluid into the reactor bed. These are usually determined by the settling
capacity, particualte matter per sq.area. They are so made so that the matter
do not settle down. (Recall stoke's law for terminal velocity) for these particles
after fluidization. The fluid (both liquid and gas) can be introduced in many
forms in a bubbling fluidized bed it is usually vertical introduction int other
forms it is mostly other means such as circular etc, this again is determined
by the introduced fluid whether immiscible or miscible fluid. The Bubbling
fluidized bed forms coalescent which is useful in cracking of hydrocarbon
process in petrol refineries.
Types of Bubbling Bed Reactor
1.Bubbling fluidized bed
2.Circulating fluidized bed
3.Flash reactor
4.Annular fluidized bed

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Principle Of Bubbling Bed Reactor
Fuild passes through bottom with low velocity first to settle down the solid
material on the porous plate called distributor. Fluid passes through the voids
of the solid material. This is known as packed bed reactor.
After some time when the solid material gets balanced with the fluid force this
stage known as incipient fluidization .and this velocity known as minimum
fluidization velocity. after this minimum velocity surpassed the reactor
become fluidized bed reactor.
A. a fluidized bed appears much like vigorously boiling liquid bubbled of gas
rise rapidly and burst on the surface
B. bubbles contains small amount soilds
C. from top up colleted out
Factors
Minimum fluidization velocity umf
*Bed pressure drop ∆p
*Bed expansion ratio R
R=[Havg/Hstatic]=[(Hmax+Hmin)/2*Hs]
*bed fluctuation ratio r r=(Hmax+Hmin)
*fluidization quality (FQ)
Siz of Particle
(1). Some very fine particle may not be fluidized.
(2) Depends upon size particle and density
(3)Geldarts classification according to size particle and density
*group A-small mean particle size dp<30mmor low particle density
(<~1.4g/cm3)
* group B- particle size 150mm to 500mm and density from 1.4 to 4g/cm3.

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* group C-sizes are usually less than 30mm
* group D-very large or very dense

Figure (1): types of powder

Figure (2): bubble formation

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Agglomeration
*where the moist sticky particles coolide due to the turbulence and adhere to
each other forming agglomeration
Bed material
1.Bed material should be made of washed river sand.
2.River water contains significant level of alkali silicates.
3.Hence they form low melting temp compounds
Application
1. Roasting of sulphide ores.
2. Roasting of sulphide ores and Zn,Fe,Cu and metals are oxidized with air a
thigh temp like 600-1000degree celcius
3. Oil & petrochemical i Ndustries.
4.To obtain gasoline .
5.Production of polymers.
Fluidization Improvement
Fluidization can be improved with lower particle size and higher air velocity.
Advantages
1.Uniform mixing.
2.Uniform temp gradient.
3.Operate in continuous state.
4. Even temperature distribution eliminates hot spots.
5. Catalyst is easily replaced or regenerated.
6. Allows for continuous, automatically controlled operations.
7. More efficient contacting of gas and solid than in other catalytic reactors.

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Disadvantages
1.Increased reactor size.
2.Pumping requirement (extra energy).
3.Particle entrainment.
4.Erosion of internal component.
Fluidized Bed Reactors
The fluidized-bed reactor has the ability to process large volumes of fluid. For
the catalytic cracking of petroleum naphtha as to form gasoline blends, as an
example, the virtues of the fluidized-bed reactor drove its competitors from
the market. Fluidization occurs when small solid particles are suspended in an
upward-flowing stream of fluid, as shown in Figure (3). The fluid velocity is
sufficient to suspend the particles, but not large enough to carry them out of
the vessel. The solid particles swirl around the bed rapidly, creating excellent
mixing among them. The material fluidized is almost always as olid and the
fluidizing mediums either a liquid or a gas. The characteristics and behavior
of a fluidized bed are strongly dependent on both the solid and liquid or gas
properties. Nearly all of the significant commercial applications of fluidized-
bed technology concern gas-solid systems, so these are treated in this section.
The material that follows is based on what is seemingly the best model of the
fluidized-bed reactor developed thus far--the bubbling-bed model of Kunii
and levenspiel.

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 Figure (3): fluidized bed reactor
Bubbling Fluidized Bed Circulating Fluidized Bed
In bubbling bed particle size used are larger than circulating fluidized bed so
power requirement for sizing is less.
Sensible heat loss will be less in bubbling fluidized as air to solid is less in
bubbling fluidized bed than in a circulating fluidized bed.
The biggest disadvantage of BFB's is that you run the risk of ash fusion. This
means that you have to either remove heat from the bed to keep the bed
temperatures down or you have to run at "very" high excess air conditions.
Heat removal is again challenged by abrasion of the heat transfer surface. You
can use SiC coatings to give your pipes/tubes longer life.

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As you may know, high excess air simply results in the venting of hot air to
atmosphere. This reduces your energy efficiency vs say chain grate or PF
combustors.
Compared with CFB, I think the advantages of BFB are: (a) more uniform
temperature distribution, especially smaller axial temperature gradient than in
CFB; (b) the longer solids residence time due to its high particle
concentration, which is especially suitable to low-rate reaction systems and is
difficult to achieve in CFB, as the height of CFB cannot be too long; (c) the
reactor is much simple as solids circulation system is avoided; (4) the
requirement for solids separation in BFB is often lower and the separation
system is simpler.

References

[1]https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-bubbling-
fluidized-bed-and-a-fluidized-bed.
[2]https://www.slideshare.net/akshaypatil1234/bubbling-fluidized-bed-
reactor.
[3]https://www.quora.com/What-is-fluidization-in-boilers-How-does-it-
happen-and-how-can-we-improve-fluidization.
[4]https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_advantages_of_Bubblin
g _Fluidized_Bed_reactors.
[5]https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Geldart-classification-of-powders-
according-to-fluidization-properties_fig2_267250357