EXPERIMENT -03

FLUIDIZED BED

AIM: -
1. To determine pressure drop per unit bed length as a function of superficial fluid
velocity
2. To determine minimum fluidization velocity from the experimental data and compare it
with the theory.
3. To study the effect of Reynolds Number on ∈ .

THEORY: -
Fluidization is one of the methods available for contacting granular solids with fluids. A
fluidized bed provides a higher interfacial surface area of contact and high transfer rates.
When a fluid passes upward through a bed of solids, there will be a certain pressure drop across
the bed required to maintain the fluid flow. Depending upon the bed geometry, a fluid velocity and
particle characteristics three phenomenon occurs with gradual increase in fluid velocity.

Fluidized bed

Log
(Pressure Drop)

Log (fluid velocity)

At low fluid velocities, there is a pressure drop across the bed but the solid bed is static (curve
AB). As the fluid velocity is gradually increased, a certain velocity is reached when the bed starts
expanding. At this point, the pressure drop across the bed equals the mass per unit area of the bed. This
point is known as point of incipient fluidization (point B). The pressure drop is maximum at B. Once the
particles are separated, pressure required to maintain fluidization is less as indicated by point C. As the
velocity is further increased the pressure drop remains constant until the bed assumes a loosest stable form
of packing (point D).
The nature of fluidization can be predicted by the Froude’s No. (V2/g Dp)

If Fr. No. < 1 Particulate fluidization.

Fr. No.> 1 Aggregative fluidization.
 Pressure drop across a fixed bed is given by Ergun’s equation:

ΔP ∈3 D p 150(1− ∈)μ
= +1.75 ------------ (1)
ρL 1− ∈ V 2 D p Vρ

Where ∈ =Bed porosity at any time.

ZA − Ws / ρp
∈ =
ZA
Ws
=1- --------- (2)
ZAρp
At the onset of fluidization, the pressure drop across the bed equals the weight of bed per unit
area of cross section.

ΔP
= g ( ρ p- ρ )(1- ∈ ) ----------------------(3)
Z

From equation (1) and (3), the minimum fluidization velocity Vmf at the point of
incipient fluidization can find out in the form of a quadratic equation.
150μVmf (1− ∈mf ) 1.75ρVmf 2
+ = g ( ρp − ρ ) ------------------- (4)
Dp 2 ∈mf 3 Dp ∈mf 3

Fluidization Efficiency = η

GF − GE
η=
GF

Where:
GE = Mass velocity of fluid actually causing initial expansion of bed, kg/s-m2

GF = Mass velocity of fluid theoretically required to produce fluidization,

kg/s- m2

A = Cross sectional area of column, m2

D = Column diameter, m.

Dp = Particle diameter, m.

∈ =Void fraction.

∈ mf =Void fraction at onset of fluidization.

 Z = Bed height, m.

V = Superficial fluid velocity through column, m/s.

Vmf =Minimum fluidization velocity, m/s.

WS = Mass of solids in bed, kg.

ρ = Density of fluid, Kg/m3

ρ P =Density of solid particle, Kg/m3

μ = Viscosity of fluid, N-S/ m2

ΔP = Pressure drop, N/ m2.

D P Vmf ρ
(NRe)mf =
μ

POROSITY OF THE STATIC BED ( ∈ 0):

Take some solids (used in the main column) in a graduated cylinder and note its initial volume
(V1). Add a known volume (V2) of water (sufficient to cover the bed) and note the final volume (V3).
The porosity of the static bed is given by:

(V1 + V2 − V3 )
∈0 =
V1

POROSITY OF THE FLUIDIZED BED ( ∈ 1):

If Z0 and ∈ 0 are the height and porosity of the static bed and Z1 and ∈ 1 are the height
and porosity of the fluidized bed, then:

Z1 (1-∈ 1) =Z0 (1-∈ 0)

Z0
⇒(1- ∈ 1) = (1− ∈0 )
Z1

Z0
⇒∈ 1 = 1- (1− ∈0 )
Z1
PROCEDURE: -
1. Start the minimum flow of water in the column at constant rate. Note the flow rate, bed
height (Z) and pressure drop across the column (ΔP) after steady state is reached.
2. Gradually increase the flow rate of water steadily and repeat step (1) for 12 to 14
different flow rates.
3. Continue till the bed is fluidized and finally becomes turbulent (i.e. till there is no
appreciable change in pressure drop indicated by manometer.)
4. Now gradually decrease the flow rate back to zero and record the same data (Bed
height, pressure drop and flow rate.)
STANDARD DATA: -
1. Column = MOC Borosilicate Glass. Diameter, Dc. = 5.0×10-2 m.
2. Packing material Spherical Glass Beads, Dp Diameter of packing. = 3.0×10-3 m.
3. Initial height of packing, Z0 =
4. Density of water,ρw in Kg./m.3 = 1000
2
5. Viscosity of water,μ in N-s/m = 1.0×10-3
3
6. Density of packing material, ρp in Kg./m. = 1471.33
7. Density of manometer fluid, ρm in Kg./m.3 = 1595.0

Calculation of the initial porosity of the bed.

1. Initial volume of the packing in the cylinder in, ml. = 100.0
2. Volume of water added to the cylinder in, ml. = 42.0
3. Final volume in the cylinder in, ml. = 105.0
Hence Initial porosity of the packed bed is. = 0.37

FORMULAE: -
(V1 + V2 − V3 )
1. ∈ =
V1
2. If R (cm.) is the difference in manometer limbs between manometer taps, then

R
ΔP = (ρm − ρw )g
100
Z0
3. ∈ 1 (1− ∈0 )
= 1-
Z1
OBSERVATION TABLE: -

Run No. Height of packing, mm. Volumetric flow rate, Manometer reading,
LPM cm.
1.
2.
3.
4.
.
.
CALCULATION TABLE:

Sl.No. ΔP (N/m.2) Z (m.) ΔP/Z V Rep. ∈

(N/m.2/m.) (m. /sec.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
.
.
.
.

PLOT AND CALCULATIONS: -

1. Plot [ΔP/Z (N/m.2/m.)] of bed height as a function of fluid velocity [V (m/sec.)]
on a log-log plot. From this plot determine the incipient fluidization velocity,
corresponding to the intersection of the constant pressure line with descending
velocity Vs pressure line. Or you can use the procedure given in “Unit operation
in Chemical Engineering” book by Mc. Cabe Smith or you can follow “Coulson
and Richardson vol: 2”.
2. Calculate (ΔP/Z) using equation (3) and Vmf using equation (4) and compare the
values with that obtained from the plot [ΔP/Z verses].
3. Plot Rep verses ∈. Read from the graph the value of Rep at ∈=1. Calculate the
velocity from Rep at ∈=1.
4. Calculate Froude’s Number at Vmf for water.

PRECAUTIONS: -
1. Never fully close the Delivery and By-Pass valve simultaneously.

RESULTS: - Discuss the experimental results and observations and draw a neat diagram of
the experimental setup.