CLL 331

FLUID PARTICLE MECHANICS

Lecture 22: Design Rules for Packed Bed

20-09-23
 Blaine Experiment

Measurement of surface area of particles

 Measurement of surface area of particles

Powder Holder

Vacuum

Manometer

Blaine Apparatus
 Measurement of surface area of particles

Powder Holder Size, d ??

Vacuum

Manometer

Blaine Apparatus
 Measurement of surface area of particles

Powder Holder Size, d ??

Atmospheric Pressure
Vacuum

Manometer Low Pressure

Blaine Apparatus
 Measurement of surface area of particles

Atmospheric Pressure
Powder Holder

Vacuum

Atmospheric
Pressure

Manometer
Low Pressure

Pressure drop can Blaine Apparatus

be measured in
the manometer
 Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)
Using Ergun Equation at low Re,

Dp µU (1 - e ) 2
= 150
L d sv2 e 3
 Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)
Using Ergun Equation at low Re,

Dp µU (1 - e ) 2
= 150
L d sv2 e 3

6
For the case of spherical particle, Sv = Sv = surface area per
d sv unit volume
 Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)
Using Ergun Equation at low Re,

Dp µU (1 - e ) 2
= 150
L d sv2 e 3

6
For the case of spherical particle, Sv =
d sv

Dp µUS v2 (1 - e ) 2 Sv = surface area per

= 4.17 unit volume
L e3
 Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)
Using Ergun Equation at low Re,

Dp µU (1 - e ) 2
= 150
L d sv2 e 3
Dp µUSv2 (1 - e ) 2 Sv = surface area per
= 4.17 unit volume
L e3
Dpe 3
=U
4.17 LµS v (1 - e )
2 2
 Measurement of surface area of particles

Powder Holder

Vacuum

dx
A1U = A2utube = - A2
dt
Manometer Atube = A2

Blaine Apparatus
 Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)
Using Ergun Equation at low Re,

Dp µU (1 - e ) 2
= 150
L d sv2 e 3
Dp µUS v2 (1 - e ) 2 Sv = surface area per
= 4.17 unit volume
L e3
Dpe 3
=U
4.17 LµS v (1 - e )
2 2

dx From experiments
A1U = Atubeutube = - Atube = A1U
dt
Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)

From the experiment, we can measure the superficial velocity and delP at
the same time,

dx - Atube dx
- Atube = A1U Þ U =
dt A1 dt
Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)

From the experiment, we can measure the superficial velocity and delP at
the same time,

dx - Atube dx
- Atube = A1U Þ U =
dt A1 dt

Dp = 2 xr f g

This is the manometer

fluid height (noted from
the equilibrium height)
Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)

From the experiment, we can measure the superficial velocity and delP at
the same time,

dx - Atube dx
- Atube = A1U Þ U =
dt A1 dt
This is manometer fluid
Dp = 2 xr f g

Substituting both delP and U in Ergun equation,

2 xr f ge 3 Atube dx
=-
4.17 LµS v (1 - e )
2 2
A1dt
 Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)

2 xr f ge 3 Atube dx
=-
4.17 LµS v (1 - e )
2 2
A1dt

Solving the above equation,

 Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)

2 xr f ge 3 Atube dx
=-
4.17 LµS v (1 - e )
2 2
A1dt

Solving the above equation,

x0 A1 2 r f g 1 e3
ln = t
x Atube 4.17 µ S v L (1 - e )
2 2

2 A1 2 r f g 1 e3
=
S vexperiment, t
In the
A
with time (t) tube
4 .17 µL ln 0 (1 - e )
we are notingx position of2 manometer fluid (x)

x
 Surface Area Calculation (Blaine Experiment)

2 xr f ge 3 Atube dx
=-
4.17 LµS v (1 - e )
2 2
A1dt

Solving the above equation,

x0 A1 2 r f g 1 e3
ln = t
x Atube 4.17 µ S v L (1 - e )
2 2

2 A1 2 r f g 1 e3
Sv = t
Atube 4.17 µL ln x0 (1 - e )2

x
Design rules for packed
towers for
absorption/distillation

(Chemical Engineering Design,

Coulson and Richardson and
Unit Operations of Chemical
Engineering, McCabe and
Smith)
• Good mechanical strength
 Structured Packing

Made from wire mesh or perforated metal sheets

Regular geometry

High surface area

High void fraction

High efficiency and low pressure drop

Proprietary and expensive

Can be used to
determine
pressure drop
Dependence of pressure drop on flow rate, packing and fluid properties
General Method for Calculating
Tower Diameter
 Pressure Drop in Two Phase Flow
• Pressure drop scales like 𝑢!".$ with X - Loading point, Y - Flooding point
respect to gas velocity consistently
for low liquid flow rate

• Increase in liquid flow rate for low

liquid flow rate increases the
pressure drop but the scaling can
still remain same

• At higher liquid flow rate, when the

gas velocity reaches a particular
value the pressure drop rises pretty
fast (𝑢!%.&)

• Liquid hold up increases leading to

higher resistance to gas flow giving
higher pressure drop

(Coulson and Richardson, vol. 2)

Calculation of tower diameter

The generalized pressure drop correlation has been

developed as a practical aid to packed tower design and
incorporates
• Flowrates,
• Physical properties of the fluid,
• A wide range of packings and pressure drop on one chart
presented in dimensionally consistent form. The broken
line represents flooding (next slide).
 General method to calculate flooding conditions

(Coulson and Richardson)

 General method to calculate flooding conditions

(Process Condition dependent parameter)

General method to calculate flooding conditions
 Packing Specific Method for
Calculating Diameter

(McCabe and Smith)

Flooding Regime
Ergun’s pressure drop
Flooding Regime
Ergun’s pressure drop

The pressure drop curves will change for a different packing

 Flooding Velocity
Gas mass flow velocity ~ 0.5 Flooding
velocity

Column Area = Gas mass flow rate

Gas mass flow velocity
Flooding Condition
Packing Support
 Spray nozzle distributor

Pressure Distributor
Gravity Distributor