Neel Patel

210170730010

Term Paper
ARE (3723024)
Fluidized Bed Reactor
 It can process large volume of reactants
 Mostly used in catalytic cracking
 Small solid particles are suspended in upward moving flow
 catalyst present in stream are suspended in the flow
 In order for fluidization to occur the fluidization to occur the fluid velocity should be
sufficient to suspend the particles in the fluid stream, but not large to take the particle out
of the reactor
 It provides good mixing
 Fluids used is Gas or Liquid

By controlling the gas velocity, it is possible to set the required fluidization regime. The fixed
bed is characterized by a low gas velocity, keeping the bed static. The minimum fluidization
regime is the starting point of the fluidization regime. The bubbling regime arises when gas
velocity exceeds the minimum fluidization velocity, generating instability in the flow. Pneumatic
transport occurs when gas velocity is greater than terminal velocity, and it is used in circulating
fluidized beds.

Fluidization is largely influenced by the characteristics of the particles.

•Group A: Small particles (30–150 μm), and low density (<1.4 g/cm3). The fluidization is easy,
smooth and homogeneous. It makes possible operating with low gas flows and controlling the
growth and speed of the bubbles.
Neel Patel
210170730010

•Group B: Particles with medium diameter (40–500 μm) and density between 1.4 and 4 g/cm3.
The fluidization is good for high gas flow rates. The bubbles tend to grow a lot and appear at the
beginning of fluidization (umf ≈ umb).
•Group C: Very small particles (d < 30 μm). Fluidization is difficult.
•Group D: Dense and large particles (d > 500 μm). Fluidization is difficult and non-uniform,
ideal for spouted beds.
In fluidized bed modeling, the minimum fluidization condition is determined by the physical
properties of the particles, where porosity, pressure drop, bed expansion and gas velocity are
defined. These characteristics allow determination of bubble diameter and velocity, which
influence mass and heat transfer between the bubble and emulsion phases.

Assumptions:
 Gas flows up as bubble
 Mass transfer in & out of bubble
 Catalytic reaction in solid particles (A  product)
Factor affecting performance of FBR
 Rate of Mass Transfer
 Bubble residence time (for how much time bubble raise in reactor)
 Rate of reaction
now, Mass of solid present in reactor
Ws = c Ac Hs (1 – εmf)
where, c = density of catalyst
Ac = cross section area
Hs = height of the settled catalyst inside the bed
εs = porosity of the bed
Mass of solid when fluidized,
Ws = c Ac H (1 – ε)

Minimum fluidization velocity,

g force = drag force
Neel Patel
210170730010

P
= g(1 - εmf ) (c - g)…………………..(1)
h

where, c = density of catalyst

g = density of gas
by Ergun equation,

P
h
= ❑g U
ℜ [
2 150(1−ε ) 7 1−ε
+
4 dp ε 3
…………..(2) ]
where, = sphericity of the particle
dp = diameter of particle

( d p )2 ε mf
3
Umf = g ( c−g ) (for Re < 10)
150 μ 1−ε mf

( )
2
6 Vp 3
π
= π
Ap
where, Ap = area of particle

Porosity at minimum fluidization velocity

( ) ( )
0.029 0.02
−0.72 μ2 ❑g
εmf = 0.586❑ ❑c
❑g η dp3

where, η = (c - g)

Maximum Fluidization velocity,

drag force > g force

η dp2
ut = (for Re < 0.4)
18 μ

[ ]
1
n2 3
ut = 1.78∗10−2 dp (0.4 < Re < 500)
gμ
Neel Patel
210170730010

THE K-L MODEL FOR BFB

Hydrodynamic type flow models can be developed to represent the BFB, based on the above two
seemingly simple findings. Let us consider and develop the simplest of these, the K-L BFB
model.
Pass an excess of gas upward through a bed of fine particles. With a large enough bed diameter
we get a freely bubbling bed of fast bubbles. As simplifications, assume the following: The
bubbles are all spherical, all of the same size d,, and all follow the Davidson model. Thus the bed
contains bubbles surrounded by thin clouds rising through an emulsion. We ignore the upflow of
gas through the cloud because the cloud volume is small compared to that of the bubble. This is
the regime where u, u, (see Fig. 20.8). The emulsion stays at minimum fluidization conditions,
thus the relative G/S velocity stays constant in the emulsion.
Each bubble drags up a wake of solids behind it. This generates a circulation of solids in the bed,
upflow behind the bubbles, and downflow everywhere else in the bed. If this downflow of solids
is rapid enough then gas upflow in the emulsion is impeded, can actually stop, and even reverse
itself. Such downflow of gas has been observed and recorded, and occurs when

We ignore any upflow or downflow of gas in the emulsion. We show this model
in Fig. 20.9.
Let
u, = superficial gas velocity in the bed, m3 gas/m2 bed - s
d = diameter, m
E = fraction of voids in the bed
subscripts b, c, e, w refer to bubble, cloud, emulsion, and wake, respectively.
subscripts m, mf, and f refer to packed bed, minimum fluidization, and bubbling
fluidized bed conditions, respectively.
Neel Patel
210170730010

Material Balance for Gas and for Solids

From Kunii and Levenspiel (1991) a material balance for the bed material gives
Neel Patel
210170730010

Using Davidson's theoretical expression for bubble-cloud circulation and the

Higbie theory for cloud-emulsion diffusion the interchange of gas between bubble
and cloud is then found to be

and between cloud-wake and emulsion,

Neel Patel
210170730010