Khulna University of Engineering & Technology

Department of Chemical Engineering

Year- 3rd; Semester-2nd

Sessional Report on Ch.E 3216

Experiment no: 02
Experiment title: To verify the Richardson- Zaki equation for liquid fluidized beds.

Evaluation & Remarks

Submitted by Submitted to
Nusrat Jahan Mim Md. Khairul Bahar
Roll-1929023 Lecturer,
Dept. Of Ch.E
KUET

Date of performance : 03.10.2023 Date of Submission: 07.11.2023

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Abstract:
The main objective of liquid-solid fluidized bed experiment to verify the Richardson-Zaki
equation. In this system the minimum fluidization velocity and terminal settling velocity both were
both were determined. Logarithmic plot of superficial velocity against voidage were plotted for
increasing velocity trend and decreasing velocity trend. Base on the experimental data, for
increasing velocities experimentally found values from the plot superficial velocity vs. voidage, of
terminal settling velocity, minimum fluidization velocity and Richardson-Zaki index were
0.601m/s, 0.0231m/s, 4.5199 respectively and for decreasing velocity trend found values of
terminal settling velocity, minimum fluidization velocity and Richardson-Zaki index were
0.2404m/s, 0.02088 m/s, 2.943 respectively.

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1.0 Introduction
The process of fluidization involves coming into contact with a gas or solid and changing fine
solids into a state that resembles a fluid. There are several unique features to this contacting
technique, and fluidization engineering focuses on finding ways to optimize and leverage this
behavior. The particles do not move when fluid is passed through a bed of solid particles at a very
low speed; the pressure drop is determined by the Ergun's equation. The pressure drop rise as the
fluid velocity is gradually increased. The particles eventually begin to move and dissolve into the
liquid. The terms fluidization and fluidized bed are used to describe the condition of fully
suspended particles, since the suspension behaves as a dense fluid. The relationship between the
void fraction, also known as bed porosity, and the particle concentration in a fluidized bed is
described by the Richardson-Zaki equation, a significant empirical equation in the field of
fluidization. It is especially important for liquid-fluidized beds, in which a liquid suspends and
fluidizes solid particles. A helpful tool for forecasting the void fraction in a liquid fluidized bed
under various operating circumstances is the Richardson-Zaki equation.

Despite the numerous benefits attributed to the fluidization phenomenon, bubbling and slugging
behavior have a negative impact on the effectiveness and quality of large-scale, deep liquid solid
continuous fluidized beds.

1.1 Theory

The Richardson-Zaki formula is the fundamental equation that most researchers use to determine
the relationship between rinsing speed and bed porosity

VP k
Voidage, ε = = 1− .
VT h

If the liquid flow increases above Umf, the bed expands to a greater height. The bed expands
uniformly from the minimum fluidization velocity Umf to physical transport of the bed at the
terminal settling velocity of the particles, Ut. The relationship between U and ε on logarithmic
coordinates, as observed in experiments, has led several researchers to propose the following
correlation for spherical particles.

U = Ut εn

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This correlation which is also valid for sedimentation is now commonly known as the
Richardson- Zaki equation.
1.1A. Minimum Fluidization Velocity, Umf
When the weight of the pack equals the pressure drop caused by the upward fluid flow through a
granular, unrestricted bed, the packed bed expands. The fluid flows through the bed in a similar
manner as it did when the bed was stationary, allowing the bed to maintain its top horizontal surface
as it expands. Nevertheless, there is a lot more porosity, and the passing fluid affects how each
individual particle moves. The bed has many of the appearances of a boiling liquid and is referred
to as being " fluidized.”

(ρP −ρf) g D 2ε3

Umf = P
(1)
150 μ (1−ε)

If the void fraction at incipient fluidization, ϵM, is known, this equation can be used to get the
minimum fluidization velocity.

1.2B. Terminal Settling Velocity, Ut:

At the terminal settling velocity, which is reached by the particle during fluidization when the total
force acting on it is zero. The regular bed expansion that occurs as the velocity increases from the
minimum fluidization velocity to the terminal settling is a common characteristic of liquid-
fluidized systems.

For laminar flow we get the terminal velocity as

D2P (ρP −ρ)g

Ut= (2)
18μ

The ratio of the terminal velocity to the minimum fluidization velocity that is
Ut 8.33 (1 − ε)
=
Umf ∅2S ε3

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1.3 Experimental procedure:
Initially collect the bed height of the column. By adjusting the opening valve, increased the water
flow rate. After a particular period of time, collect water and weigh the sample.

2.0 Experimental data:

Table-1: data for liquid- solid fluidization bed.
Observation Velocity trend Mass of the Time, t (sec) Height of the
No water, W(gm) bed, H (cm)
1 Increasing 220 20.08 12.70
2 870 20.66 13.46
3 880 20.57 13.97
4 1200 20.51 14.98
5 1500 20.51 16.51
6 1000 10.49 19.05
7 Decreasing 920 10.54 18.03
8 920 10.51 17.27
9 800 10.42 16.25
10 1000 15.38 14.73
11 960 20.59 13.71
12 600 20.35 12.70

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2.1 Calculated data:
Table-2: Calculated data for fluidization bed as shown below-

Observation Velocity Mass of the Time, t Height of Superficial Voidage,

trend water, (sec) the bed, H
No Velocity, ᵋ
W(gm) (cm)
U (m/s)
1 Increasi 220 20.08 12.70 0.005432723 0.4
ng
2 870 20.66 13.46 0.020880819 0.433878
3 880 20.57 13.97 0.021213239 0.454545
4 1200 20.51 14.98 0.029011767 0.491322
5 1500 20.51 16.51 0.036264709 0.538462
6 1000 10.49 19.05 0.047269729 0.6
7 Decreasi 920 10.54 18.03 0.04328 0.577371
ng
8 920 10.51 17.27 0.04341 0.558772
9 800 10.42 16.25 0.03807 0.531077
10 1000 15.38 14.73 0.03224 0.482688
11 960 20.59 13.71 0.02312 0.444201
12 600 20.35 12.70 0.01462 0.4

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3.0 Result & discussion:
The results of experimental data are shown in Figure-1 & Figure-2 by plotting superficial velocity
against voidage for bed- when the trend of velocity- increasing and decreasing.

y = 0.6017x4.5199
0.1
superficial velocity (m/s)

0.01

0.001
0.1 Voidage 1

Figure-1: Graph of superficial velocity against voidage (for increasing velocity).

y = 0.2404x2.943
0.1
superficial velocity, U (m/s)

0.01
0.1 1
Voidage

Figure-2: Graph of superficial velocity against voidage (for decreasing velocity).

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Following the experimental procedure, the value of superficial velocity (vf) of the bed that is found
0.02121 ms-1 for observation number 3. But the theoretical value of the fluidized bed that is found
0.03955 m/s. Graphical representation, the slope of the equation indicated that the value of terminal
velocity which is similar to the Richardson-Zaki equation.

Experimental values
Increasing Decreasing
Minimum fluidization velocity of the bed, Umf 0.0231 0.02088
(m/s)
Terminal settling velocity, Ut (m/s) 0.601 0.24040
n (R-Z index) 4.5199 2.94300

Based on this experimental data, height of the bed starts expanding when flow of water is
increased. When flow rate of water reached to a higher value, it has become difficult to determine
the height of bed. This case provided incorrect value of height, which have significant error in the
calculations. Another factor presents to provide incorrect value of height that as the pressure drop
gradually increases initially until the velocity becomes a minimum fluidization velocity. The result
of the experimental data, as shown in logarithmic scaling graph the superficial velocity against
voidage for the liquid solid fluidization.

However, there were some errors made during the experiment perform that had a minor impact on
the outcome.

4.0 Conclusion:
As a conclusion, this experiment is to determine the minimum fluidization velocity and terminal
settling velocity inside the fluidized bed & (R-Z) using Richardson-Zaki equation. Terminal
settling velocity high for decreasing velocity trend. R-z index higher at increasing velocity region
but lower at decreasing velocity region. By that, the terminal velocity and R-Z index has been
studied theory of Richardson-Zaki equation in this experiment.

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5. References:

[1] Foust, A. S., Wenzel, L. A., Clump, C. W., Maus, L. and Andersen, L. B. (1980). Principles of
Unit Operations, 2nd ed., New York: John Wiley & Sons.
[2] Perry, R.H. and Green, D.W. (1997), 7th ed., McGraw-Hill, New York.
[3] Coulson, J. M., Richardson, J. F., Backhurst, J. R. and Harker, J. H. (1978). Chemical
Engineering, Vol. 2, Pergamon International library of Science, Technology, Engineering and
Social Services.
[4] McCabe, W. L., Smith, J. C., and Harriott, P. (2005). Unit Operations of Chemical
Engineering, 7th ed., McGraw-Hill, Singapore.