Edibon Fixed and Fluidized Bed Manual

PRACTICAL EXERCISES MANUAL
Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 1 / 40
TABLE OF CONTENTS
7 PRACTICAL EXERCISES MANUAL ..................................................................................... 2
7.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT ................................................................................................... 2
7.1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 2
7.1.2 Description ................................................................................................................................................. 2
7.1.3 Practical possibilities .................................................................................................................................. 5
7.1.4 Specifications ............................................................................................................................................. 6
7.1.5 Dimensions and weights ............................................................................................................................. 7
7.1.6 Required services........................................................................................................................................ 7
7.2 THEORY ........................................................................................................................................ 8
7.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 8
7.2.2 Theory ...................................................................................................................................................... 10
7.3 LABORATORY PRACTICAL EXERCISES ........................................................................... 20
7.3.1 Practical exercise 1: Pressure drop through fixed and fluidized beds (fluid: water) and fine particles .... 20
7.3.2 Practical exercise 2: Study of the pressure drop in fixed and fluidized beds (fluid: water) and
thick particles .......................................................................................................................................................... 23
7.3.3 Practical exercise 3: Study of the pressure drop in fixed and fluidized beds (fluid: air) and fine
particles. .................................................................................................................................................................. 26
7.3.4 Practical exercise 4: Study of the pressure drop in fixed and fluidized beds (fluid: air) and thick
particles. .................................................................................................................................................................. 29
7.3.5 Practical exercise 5: Verification of Carman-Kozeny equation................................................................ 32
7.3.6 Practical exercise 6: Study and determination of the minimum fluidization rate ..................................... 36
7 PRACTICAL EXERCISES MANUAL
7.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT
7.1.1 Introduction
The flow of a fluid through a particles bed is a phenomenon that normally

takes place in nature; for example, the flow of water through the ground.
As far as industrial applications are concerned, the ion exchange, the

extraction of soluble compounds from raw materials and other chemical processes
can be included.
The LFF unit allows a full study about everything concerning the flow of a
fluid through a particles bed, both fixed and fluidized. The unit allows the
simultaneous study of the water and air flow through the bed.
7.1.2 Description
The unit is composed of 2 transparent removable columns made of plastic

for the simultaneous study of the air and water flow through the bed. In the LFF unit
each column is connected to a manometers panel that indicates at all times the
pressure drop caused by the bed. In the LFFC unit the pressure drop is measured by a
differential pressure sensor connected to each column.
Water is pumped from the tank, located at the back side of the unit, to the
bottom of the first column, going through a flow control valve and then through
either a flow meter (LFF) or flow sensor (LFFC).
Air is supplied to the second column through a compressor located at the

back of the unit. The air flow is measured by a flow meter (LFF) or a differential
pressure sensor and an orifice plate (LFFC).
There are glass beads of two different sizes for the bed.
7.1.3 Practical possibilities
- Study of the basis of fixed bed fluidization.
- Comparison of the fluidization process in water and air currents.
- Study of the pressure drop through fixed and fluidized beds in

function of:
 The flow rate.
 The size of the bed particles.
- Verification of the Carman-Kozeny equation.
- Study and determination of the minimum fluidization rate.
- Study of differences between particulate and aggregative

fluidization.
- Observation of the “bubbling” fluidization phenomenon.

7.1.4 Specifications
- Anodized aluminum profile frame that guarantees a good stability

and resistance to the environment.
- Diagram at the front panel with a distribution of the elements similar

to the real one.
- Two columns made of transparent plastic with a diameter of 50mm

and a length of 500mm.
- Glass beads of two sizes as packing material for the columns: 170-
300 microns and 250-420 microns.
- Water tank with a capacity of 10 liters.
- Water pump.
- Compressor.
- Water regulation valve and flow meter of 0.07 – 0.55 l/min (LFF) or
flow sensor with a range of 0.1-2.5 l/min (LFFC).
- Air regulation valve and two air flow meters, one with a range of 1-
7.5 l/min and another of 3-21 l/min to cover the working range of the
LFF unit. If your unit is the LFFC, there is an orifice plate and a
differential pressure sensor to measure the air flow. Range: 0-20
l/min.
- Two 500mm manometers to measure the pressure drop in the bed in

the LFF unit and two differential pressure sensors with a range of 0-
1 PSI in LFFC unit.
7.1.5 Dimensions and weights
 Dimensions:
Height: 870 mm.
Width: 570 mm
Length: 700 mm
 Weight: 50 Kg
7.1.6 Required services
Power supply: 220 Volt 50Hz – 60Hz.

7.2 THEORY
7.2.1 Introduction
Fluidization is the name of a contact process that takes place between a

solid and a flow (gas or liquid), in which the bed made up of solid particles, divided
in a refined way, gets up and gets agitated using a flow rising current.
However, McCabe and Smith point out that it is about particulate

fluidisation when there is a big but constant expansion of the bed at high velocities.
Such expansion usually becomes evident in flow-solid systems, for very small
particles and a limited range of velocity. There is talk of aggregative fluidisation
when the solids beds are fluidised with gases, as the air; that happens where most part
of the gas that passes through the bed in bubbles or in hollows that are have almost
any solid. There is only a little fraction of gas that flow through the existent canals
between the particles; such particles move erratically.
During the practice session, there has been an approach having as main
objectives the observation of the packed and fluidised bed behavior for the systems
flow-solid and gas-solid, apart from the determination of the main parameters that
have an influence on such behavior. Precisely, the main advantages of the fluidisation
consist on the flow that circulates through the bed agitates the solid vigorously.
Besides, the solids mix guarantees that practically there are no temperature gradients
in the bed, even with strongly exothermic or endothermic reactions.
The main disadvantage of the fluidisation gas-solid consists on the unequal

contact of the gas and the solid. Most part of the gas passes through the bed in
burbles and comes only into contact directly with a small amount of solid in a thin
covering around the burble. A small part of the gas passes through the thick phase,
which contains almost all the solid.
There is some gas exchange between the burbles and the thick phase by
diffusion and by turbulent processes, such as the division and burbles coalescence;
but the global conversion of a gaseous reactant is, in general, much lower than the
one that takes place in the constant contact at the same temperature. An example
would be an ideal reactor with piston flow.
However, the fluid flow through solid particles beds (fluidisation) is a

process widely used in industrial operations, such as: filtration, ionic interchange,
solvents removal, absorption and catalytic reactors.
McCabe and Smith point out that although at present, the petroleum
industry uses transport reactors for the catalytic cracking instead of fluidised beds,
the catalyst regeneration is made still in fluidised bed reactors, which have until 10
meters of diameter. The fluidisation is also used in other catalytic processes, such as
the acrylonitril synthesis, and to carry out gas-solid reactions. There is a lot of
interest regarding the charcoal combustion in a fluidised bed, to reduce the costs of
the boilers and to decrease the pollutants emission. The fluidised beds are also used
for minerals hardening, for fine solids drying and for gases absorption.
7.2.2 Theory
A bed is a column made up of solid particles, through which a fluid passes

(liquid or gas), which can be cleaned of some impurities, having a pressure drop. If
the flow moves at low velocities through the bed, there is no particles movement. But
when the velocity is gradually increased, the velocity ends up having a feature where
the particles are not static, but they get up and get agitated; such process is called
Fluidisation.
As the flow rate gets increased, and therefore the flow is also increased (if
the surface is constant), some different steps in the bed can be pointed out:
Packed bed: Particles allow the winding pass of the flow without getting
separated one of each other. That makes the bed height is kept constant, and
therefore, the fraction of vacuum in the bed (porosity) is kept also constant. In this
stage, the flow undergoes the biggest pressure drop of the process.
Pre-fluidised bed: It is also known as incipient fluidisation, and it is about

a transition state between the packed bed and the fluidised one. One of the features
presented in this stage is that the velocity in this point is called minimum velocity of
fluidisation. It is also known because the porosity starts increasing.
Intermittent fluidization: Also known by thick phase, it takes place when

the particles movement becomes more turbulent, creating whirlwinds. In this stage,
two types of fluidisation can be distinguished:
Particulate: It becomes evident in liquid-solid systems, with beds of fine

particles, in which there is a homogeneous expansion.
Aggregative: It is shown in gas-solid systems. Most of the flow circulates

in burbles that get broken in the upper part, producing agglomerates creation.
Continuous Fluidisation: All the particles are stirred by the flow; that is
why the bed stops existing like one, whereas the porosity tends to 1.
When a fluid passes through a porous material, it flows through long thin
tortuous passages of varying cross section. The problem is how to calculate the flow
rate based on nominal thickness of the bed. This was tackled by Kozeny and later by
Carman. The result is a formula, which gives a velocity of flow in the direction at
right angles to the bed plane in terms of its thickness and other parameters.
The passage between the particles is so small that the velocity in them
is small and the flow is well and truly laminar.
Poiseuille’s Equation for laminar flow states:
P  32u´

l D2
Kozeny modeled the bed as many small capillary tubes of diameter D

making up a bed of cross sectional area A. The actual cross sectional area for the
flow path is A’. The difference is the area of the solid material.
A'
The ratio is :  
A
This is known as the porosity of the material. The volume flow rate
through the bed is Q.
Kozeny used the notion that Q = Au, where u is the mean velocity at right
angles to the bed.
The volume flow rate is also Q = A’u’, where u’ is the mean velocity in the
tube.
Equating: u’=u A/ A’
A' u
Void fraction =   u' 
A 
Carman modified this formula when he realized that the actual velocity
inside the tubes must be proportionally larger because the actual length is greater
than the bed thickness. It follows that:
ul '
u '
l
Where l is the bed thickness and l’ the mean length of the passages.
Substituting this in Poiseuille’s Equation gives:
P 32ul '

l lD 2
This is usually expressed as a pressure gradient in the direction of the mean

flow (say x) and it becomes:
dP 32ul '

dx lD 2
Expressing:
As = csa of the solid
A’ = csa of the tubes

A = csa of the bed = As+A’
A' A'
 
A A' As
Multiplying on top and bottom by the length l and the areas becomes
volumes, so:
V'

V 'Vs
Vs
V '
(1   )
Where V’ is the volume of the tubes and Vs the volume of the solid.
A1 = Surface area of the tubes. Dividing both sides by A1:
V' Vs

As As (1   )
Q’ is made up of tubes diameter D and length l’ so:
4Vs
D
S (1   )
Next, we consider the solid as made up of spherical particles of mean

diameter ds.
S = surface area of tubes but also the surface area of the solid particles.
d s3
Vs  and S  d s2 it follows that:
6
2d s
D
3(1   )
Substituting this into equation (l) and:
dP 72ul ' (1   ) 2

dx ld s2 3
Research has shown that (l’/l) is about 2.5 hence:
dP 180u (1   ) 2

dx d s2 3
This is the Carman-Koszeny equation.
In filtration, the Carman-Kozeny equation relates filtrate delivery rate and

pressure drop at any instant. Where the filter medium presents an appreciable
resistance, this equation takes the form:
1 dV P

A dt r (1  L)
Where:
A = Filter area
t = Filtration time
r = Specific bed resistance
l = Bed thickness
V = Total volume of filtrate delivered
P = Pressure drop across bed and medium

 = Filtrate viscosity
L = Thickness of bed equivalent to medium resistance
Regarding the porosity, it is the vacuum fraction in bed and can be found
out through the following equation:
Vt  Vo
  o
Vt
where:
 o : Initial porosity of the bed, [adimensional].
: Porosity, [adimensional].
Vo: Volume occupied by all the particles, [m3].
Vt: Volume of the bed at a given instant, [m3].
If the surface is constant, the previous equation remains as follows:
Lo
 1  o
L
where:
 o : Initial porosity of the bed, [adimensional].
Lo: Initial height of the bed, [m].
L: Height of the bed at a given instant, [m].

For the study of beds, an important element is to know the pressure drop in
it. Precisely, McCabe y Smith point out that there are two equations to find out this
value. The first one is Ergun’s equation, which is used for packed beds:
P 150   f  vo  1    1.75   f  v0  1   
2 2
 
L Dp 2   3 Dp   3
where:
 f : Viscosity of the fluid, [Pa·s].
v o : Superficial Velocity of fluidisation, [m/s].
Dp: Particle diameter, [m].
f: Fluid density, [kg/m3].
P : Pressure drop, [Pa].
L: Bed length, [m].
For fluidised beds, the following equation is used:
P
 1      p   f   g (4)
L
where:
 p : Density of the bed particles, [kg/m ].

3
L: Bed length, [m].
g: Gravity acceleration, [m/s2].
For the study of the fluidised beds, the determination of three additional
parameters that allows its characterization. Such parameters are: Reynolds’ number
(Re) and Wilhelm’s and Kwauk’s parameters (KΔP y KΔρ). Reynolds’ number is:
 f  Dp  v
Re  (5)
f
where:
Re: Reynolds number, [adimensional].
v : Fluid velocity, [m/s].

 f : Fluid viscosity, [Pa·s].
Wilhelm’s and Kwauk’s parameters are:
Dp 3   f  g c  P 
K P    (6)
2 2f  O
L
where:
Lo: Bed initial height, [m].
gc: Factor of gravitational conversion, [1 (kg·m/s2)/N].
Dp 3   f  g c
K     f  (7)
2 2f
p
where:

 p : Bed particles density, [kg/m ].

3
gc: Factor of gravitational conversion, [1 (kg·m/s2)/N].
For the practice development, it is necessary to know the flow velocity

value in bed to be able to find out Reynolds’s number. Regarding this subject, the
liquid velocity in bed can be found out from the flow and the bed transversal surface
with the following relation:
Qv A
where:
Q: Flow, [m3/s].
A: Transversal surface, [m2].
v : Fluid velocity in bed, [m/s].

7.3 LABORATORY PRACTICAL EXERCISES
7.3.1 Practical exercise 1: Pressure drop through fixed and fluidized beds
(fluid: water) and fine particles
7.3.1.1 Objective
This practical exercise tries to study the pressure drops generated in a fixed
and fluidized bed system, for different thickness of the bed and different flows of the
liquid (water).
7.3.1.2 Necessary elements
- LFFC or LFF unit
7.3.1.3 Practical procedure
1. Fill the filtering column at the left side with some fine glass material
(170-300 microns) up to a specific height (for example: 50mm).
2. Close the water shut-off valve (VR-1) to the column.
3. Switch on the pump (AB-1) and gradually open the flow regulation
valve (VR-1) until a low flow is obtained and the bed remains still.
Record the pressure drop generated in the column and the water flow
to which it corresponds.
4. Keep on opening the valve gradually and measure the pressure drop,
the flow of water and the height of the bed several times (starting
from an average between the higher and the lower height of the bed),
thus obtaining enough measurement points so as to perform the
study perfectly.
5. Repeat the experiment varying the initial height of the bed (for
example: 100mm).
6. Repeat the experiment with so many heights of the initial bed as

wished. Take into account that at a certain moment the bed will not
be able to fluidize because there will be too many solids and it will
be not able to expand itself or there will be too much pressure drop
in the manometers to measure it.
7.3.1.4 Results and tables
- Record the obtained results in the table below.

EXP. Sample Q (l/min) HINITIAL bed HFINAL bed ΔP (mmH2O)

(mm) (mm)
1 2
2 2
3 2
7.3.1.5 Conclusions and comments
- Check that the fixed bed is obtained at small flows and that it will be
kept while the initial height of the bed is maintained at all times.
7.3.2 Practical exercise 2: Study of the pressure drop in fixed and fluidized beds
(fluid: water) and thick particles
7.3.2.1 Objective
liquid (water).
- LFFC or LFF unit
1. Fill the filtering column at the left side with some thick glass
material (250-420 microns) up to a specific height (for example:
50mm).
2. Close the water shut-off valve (VR-1) to the column.
3. Switch on the pump (AB-1) and gradually open the flow regulation
valve (VR-1) until a low flow is obtained and the bed remains still.
Record the pressure drop generated in the column and the water flow
to which it corresponds.
the flow of water and the height of the bed several times (starting
from an average between the higher and the lower height of the bed),
thus obtaining enough measurement points so as to perform the
study perfectly.
example: 100mm).

- Record the obtained results in the table below:
EXP. Sample Q (l/min) H initial (mm) H final (mm) ΔP (mmH2O)
1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4
- Check the differences with the previous experiment performed with

smaller particles.
(fluid: air) and fine particles
7.3.3.1 Objective
gas (air).
- LFFC or LFF unit
1. Fill the filtering column at the right side with some fine glass
material (170-300 microns) up to a specific height (i.e. 50mm).
2. Close the air shut-off valve (VR-2) to the column.
3. Switch on the compressor (ACO-1) and gradually open the flow

regulation valve (VR-2) until a low air flow is obtained and the bed
remains still. Record the pressure drop generated in the column and
the air flow to which it corresponds.
the flow of air and the height of the bed several times (starting from
an average between the higher and the lower height of the bed), thus
obtaining enough measurement points so as to perform the study
perfectly.
example: 100mm).

- Record the obtained results in the table below.
1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4
(fluid: air) and thick particles
7.3.4.1 Objective
gas (air).
- LFFC or LFF unit
1. Fill the filtering column at the right side with some thick glass

perfectly.
example: 100mm).

7.3.4.4 Results y tables
Record the obtained results in the table below.
1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4
7.3.5 Practical exercise 5: Verification of Carman-Kozeny equation
7.3.5.1 Objective
This practical exercise tries to prove the conclusions to which Carman-

Kozeny came; checking that their equation is fulfilled.
- LFFC or LFF unit
1. Fill the filtering column at the right side with some thin glass

perfectly.
5. Repeat the experiment varying:

- The initial height of the bed. Take into account that at a certain
moment the bed will not be able to fluidize because there will be too
many solids and it will be not able to expand itself or there will be
too much pressure drop in the manometers to measure it.
- The size of the glass material of the bed.
- The fluid (water or air) that passes through the bed. (*) NOTE: in
order to visualize the graphical representation better when
performing this practical exercise with water, work first with the
regulation valve totally open, obtaining the maximum flow at the
beginning and regulating the valve to obtain lower flows then.
1) Record the obtained results in the table below.
1 2
1
2 2
4
2) Calculate porosity of the initial bed):
The initial bed porosity can be calculated without the unit. For that
purpose:
- Add a known volume of bed packing (in this case, the thin or thick
glass particles, as it corresponds).
- Record that volume and add known volumes of water until the entire
added packing is covered. So:
A´ V ´l V ´
0    
A V l V
V’= volume of added water
V= volume of added solid
3) Calculate the rate of the fluid and Ɛ in every case and complete the table
below:
- To calculate the rate, take into account the volume of flow of the
fluid and the section of the column.
Lo
- To calculate the porosity, since the area is constant:   1   o
L
Where:
 o : Initial porosity of the bed [dimensionless].
: Porosity [dimensionless].
Lo: Initial height of the bed [m].

L: Height of the bed at a specific time [m].
EXP. Sample U (m/s ΔP (mmH2O) ΔX (mmH2O)  dimensionless
1 2
1
2 2
4) Plot dP versus dX and check that it corresponds to Carman-Kozeny

equation ( and d are constant).
7.3.6 Practical exercise 6: Study and determination of the minimum fluidization

rate
7.3.6.1 Objective
The objective of this practical exercise is determining and studying the

minimum fluidization point.
- LFFC or LFF unit
1. Fill the filtering column at the right side with some thin glass

perfectly.
5. Repeat the experiment varying:

- The height of the bed. Take into account that at a certain moment the
bed will not be able to fluidize because there will be too many solids
and it will be not able to expand itself or there will be too much
pressure drop in the manometers to measure it.
- The size of the glass material of the bed.
- The fluid (water or air) that passes through the bed. (*) NOTE: in
order to visualize the graphical representation better when
performing this practical exercise with water, work first with the
regulation valve totally open, obtaining the maximum flow at the
beginning and regulating the valve to obtain lower flows then.
7.3.6.4 Results y tables
1) Record the obtained results in the table below.
1 2
1
2 2
4
2) Calculate porosity of the initial bed):
The initial bed porosity can be calculated without the unit. For that
purpose:
- Add a known volume of bed packing (in this case, the thin or thick
glass particles, as it corresponds).
- Record that volume and add known volumes of water until the entire
added packing is covered. So:
A´ V ´l V ´
0    
A V l V
V’= volume of added water
V= volume of added solid
3) Calculate the rate of the fluid and Ɛ in every case and complete the table
below:
- To calculate the rate, take into account the volume of flow of the
fluid and the section of the column.
Lo
- To calculate the porosity, since the area is constant:   1   o
L
Where:
 o : Initial porosity of the bed [dimensionless].
: Porosity [dimensionless].
Lo: Initial height of the bed [m].

L: Height of the bed at a specific time [m].
EXP. Sample U (m/s) ΔP (mmH2O) ΔX (mmH2O)  dimensionless
1 2
2 2
4) Plot dP versus U and determine the minimum fluidization rate point

(point A).
- Check that the fluidization minimum rate is lower in the liquid-solid

system because the pressure drop required to equal the gravity effect
on the particles is lower than in the gas-solid system. That is due to
the fact that water has viscosity and density values higher than those
of the air.
- Check that the particulate fluidization is characteristic for the liquid-

solid system and the aggregative fluidization for the gas-solid
system.

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PRACTICAL EXERCISES MANUAL

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 1 / 40

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 2 / 40

7 PRACTICAL EXERCISES MANUAL

7.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT

The flow of a fluid through a particles bed is a phenomenon that normally

As far as industrial applications are concerned, the ion exchange, the

The unit is composed of 2 transparent removable columns made of plastic

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 3 / 40

Air is supplied to the second column through a compressor located at the

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 4 / 40

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 5 / 40

7.1.3 Practical possibilities

- Study of the basis of fixed bed fluidization.

- Comparison of the fluidization process in water and air currents.

- Study of the pressure drop through fixed and fluidized beds in

 The flow rate.

 The size of the bed particles.

- Verification of the Carman-Kozeny equation.

- Study and determination of the minimum fluidization rate.

- Study of differences between particulate and aggregative

- Observation of the “bubbling” fluidization phenomenon.

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 6 / 40

- Anodized aluminum profile frame that guarantees a good stability

- Diagram at the front panel with a distribution of the elements similar

- Two columns made of transparent plastic with a diameter of 50mm

- Water tank with a capacity of 10 liters.

- Two 500mm manometers to measure the pressure drop in the bed in

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 7 / 40

1 PSI in LFFC unit.

7.1.5 Dimensions and weights

Height: 870 mm.

7.1.6 Required services

Power supply: 220 Volt 50Hz – 60Hz.

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 8 / 40

Fluidization is the name of a contact process that takes place between a

However, McCabe and Smith point out that it is about particulate

The main disadvantage of the fluidisation gas-solid consists on the unequal

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 9 / 40

However, the fluid flow through solid particles beds (fluidisation) is a

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 10 / 40

A bed is a column made up of solid particles, through which a fluid passes

Pre-fluidised bed: It is also known as incipient fluidisation, and it is about

Intermittent fluidization: Also known by thick phase, it takes place when

Particulate: It becomes evident in liquid-solid systems, with beds of fine

Ref. equipo: LFF/LFFC Date: July 2014 Pg: 11 / 40

Aggregative: It is shown in gas-solid systems. Most of the flow circulates

Poiseuille’s Equation for laminar flow states:

Kozeny modeled the bed as many small capillary tubes of diameter D

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This is usually expressed as a pressure gradient in the direction of the mean

As = csa of the solid

A’ = csa of the tubes

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A = csa of the bed = As+A’

A1 = Surface area of the tubes. Dividing both sides by A1:

Q’ is made up of tubes diameter D and length l’ so:

Next, we consider the solid as made up of spherical particles of mean

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Substituting this into equation (l) and:

Research has shown that (l’/l) is about 2.5 hence:

This is the Carman-Koszeny equation.

In filtration, the Carman-Kozeny equation relates filtrate delivery rate and

r = Specific bed resistance