FLUIDIZATION

Submitted To

Lab Instructor: Dr. Khurram Shahzad

Lab Engineer: Engr. Nazish Aslam

Authored by

Raheel Qaswar RP21-CE04

M Mushahid Raza RP21-CE07
Ali Hamza RP21-CE14
M Zain Rajput RP21-CE15
Ali Nawab RP21-CE34

22 December 2023

INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING &

TECHNOLGY, UNIVERSITY OF PUNJAB LHR

1
Contents
EFFECTS OF PARTICLE SIZE ON FLOW BEHAVIOUR IN FLUIDIZED BEDS 4
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. 4
Objective ....................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5
Minimum Fluidization velocity .................................................................................. 5
Theoretical Background ................................................................................................. 7
Group A ..................................................................................................................... 7
Group B ..................................................................................................................... 7
Group C ..................................................................................................................... 8
Group D ..................................................................................................................... 8
Experimental Setup ........................................................................................................ 9
Observations: ............................................................................................................... 10
Calculations for smaller Particles: ................................................................................ 10
Bed Height (cm) .......................................................................................................... 10
Volumetric flow rate (cm3/sec).................................................................................... 10
Linear Velocity (cm/sec) .............................................................................................. 10
Voidage ....................................................................................................................... 10
Calculations for larger Particles: .................................................................................. 11
Graphical Comparison for larger Particles and smaller size Particles: .......................... 12
Smaller size particles ............................................................................................... 12
Larger size particles ................................................................................................. 12
Smaller size particles ............................................................................................... 13
Larger size particles ................................................................................................. 13
Results and Discussion: ............................................................................................... 14
References: .................................................................................................................. 14

2
3
 EFFECTS OF PARTICLE SIZE ON FLOW
BEHAVIOUR IN FLUIDIZED BEDS

ABSTRACT

The fluidization behavior depends on particle properties such as particle size,

sphericity, density, and the properties of the fluidizing agent. In this study, the
effects of different particle sizes on fluidization behavior were investigated.
Experiments were done on sand particles of mean diameter 293 µm (small
particle) and 750 µm (large particle). The experiment with small particles
gave a reduction in minimum fluidization velocity of 60.8% compared to the
minimum fluidization velocity with large particles. The minimum fluidization
velocity is also calculated using different theoretical equations based on the
average particle size for particles. The obtained experimental results were
compared with the minimum fluidization velocity calculated using different
equations available in the literature. There are significant differences in
minimum fluidization velocities obtained from the different empirical
equations. The pressure drop profiles for large and small particles follow the
trends presented in the literature. The experimental minimum fluidization
velocities were found to be 0.46 and 0.092 m/s for the large and small particles
respectively.

4
Objective
Effect of particle size on fluidized behavior
▪ Fluid velocity
▪ Volumetric flow rate
In gas solid fluidization.

Introduction
Fluidization technology is used in several industrial operations due to
uniform.
▪ heat transfer
▪ mass transfer
Industrial applications such as the following uses fluidization technology.
▪ calcination and roasting of minerals
▪ combustion
▪ gasification
▪ flue-gas desulphurization
▪ chemical reactors
The fluidization regime is very much dependent on
▪ particle size
▪ particle size distribution
▪ solid density
▪ sphericity of particles
▪ properties of fluidizing agent.
It is important to investigate the effects of these parameters on the performance of a
fluidized bed.
Minimum Fluidization velocity
Velocity measures the quantity of fluidizing agents in bed materials. When a fluid at
low velocity is introduced into a bed of solid particles, fluid hardly percolates in
between the space present between the solid particles. With an increase in the fluid
velocity, a point is achieved where all the solid particles are suspended by upward
flowing fluid. The bed at this state is called the bed at minimum fluidization. The
velocity with which the bed fluidizes is known as the minimum fluidization velocity.

5
Any other velocity with which the bed fluidizes is called the fluidization velocity. The
difference between the fluidization velocity and the minimum fluidization velocity is
known as excess velocity.

“The minimum fluidization velocity increased with increase in the

amounts of large particles as well as increase in the size of the
large particles.”

Industrial fluidized beds use bed materials with size distributions. Bed hydrodynamics
change significantly with small changes in particles size and particle size distributions.

Regimes of Fluidizations

6
Theoretical Background
Fluid flow rate gives the quantity of fluidizing agents per
unit time. When the fluid flow rate into the bed of solid particles with a range of particle
sizes is increased, the smaller particles move towards the voids present in between the
large particles. The large particle in the mixture tends to remain in stationary conditions
up to certain airflow rate, at which the bed starts to fluidize. The large particles tend to
settle down towards the bottom of the bed and the smaller particles move towards the top
of the bed. Segregation is a non-desired phenomenon in a fluidized bed. Therefore, the
study of particle size distribution in the fluidized bed is of great significance.

Geldart’s Classifications
Considering the fluidization behavior of the particles,
Geldart defined them into four different groups. The abscissa represents the average size
of the mixture (µm) in logarithmic scale and the ordinate represents the difference in
density of the bed material and the gas density (g/cm3).

Group A
Group A particles are ideal for fluidization because of good solid mixing of particles at
relatively low fluid velocity. The bubbles split and coalesce several times while passing
through the bed during fluidization.

Group B
Most of the fluidized bed gasifiers use Geldart B particles as bed material, and therefore
this study was focused on group B particles.

Group B particles have good solid mixing and heat transfer between the biomass and
bed materials. The bubbles grow and coalesce as they move upwards.

Group B is called ‘sandlike’ particles and some call it bubbly particles. Most particles
of this group have size 150 µm to 500 µm and density from 1.4 to 4 g/cm3. For these
particles, once the minimum fluidization velocity is exceeded, the excess gas appears in
the form of bubbles. Bubbles in a bed of group B particles can grow to a large size.
Typically used group B materials are glass beads and coarse sand.

7
Group C
Group C particles are small fine cohesive particles with very high interparticle forces.
Fluidization of group C particles gives rise to channeling or plugging of the bed.

Group D
Group D particles have larger diameter. It is difficult to fluidize group D particles as
the bubbles coalesce rapidly along the bed and exhibit severe channeling, spouting, and
exploding behavior.

Geldert's Classification of Particles

The different types of particles have different minimum fluidization velocity.

Moreover, the fluidization characteristics of a bed depend on density, excess velocity,
and the particle size distribution. Bulk density takes the account of voids present in the
solid mixture, given by the ratio of weight of solids divided by the total volume

8
occupied by solids and the voids. Bulk density changes with the change in particle size
distribution.

Gas Solid Fluidization Apparatus

Experimental Setup
▪ I prepared a bed of sand by sieving sand of the required size.
▪ Then I added the sand into the column up to the height.
▪ Switch ON the compressor and the control valve is slightly opened from fully
closed position.
▪ Allow the air to flow for some time until the flow becomes steady.
▪ I measured the flow rate of air by Rota meter.

9
 ▪ I measured the corresponding mass flow rate for various bed heights till
conveying occurs. Draw graphs between linear velocity and their corresponding
bed heights.
▪ I drew a graph between the linear velocity and bed height from where the
minimum fluidization and conveying velocities can be found.
▪ I calculated the minimum fluidization and conveying velocities also by
theoretical equations.
▪ I compared the experimental result front graph with theoretical result obtained
from equations.
▪ I repeat the same experiment for larger size particles.

Observations:
▪ Room temperature = 33 oC
▪ Density of water = 1 g/cm3
▪ Density of sand ps = 1.2 g/cm3
▪ Acceleration due to gravity = 990.665 cm/sec2
▪ Height of fixed bed ho = 2cm
▪ Internal diameter of column Dc. = 6.4 cm
▪ Cross sectional area of column = 32.77cm2

Calculations for smaller Particles:

Bed Height (cm) Volumetric flow Linear Velocity Voidage

rate (cm3/sec) (cm/sec)
2.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
3.00 4.50 0.14 0.33
3.50 7.00 0.21 0.43
4.80 10.00 0.31 0.58

10
 (𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟓) 𝐗 (𝟎.𝟓𝟓𝟑)^𝟑 𝐗 (𝟎.𝟏𝟎𝟑𝟏𝟐) 𝐗 (𝟏.𝟔𝟓−𝟏) 𝐗 𝟗𝟖𝟎
U mf =
(𝟏−𝟎.𝟓𝟓) 𝐗 𝟎.𝟎𝟏

Umf = 1.37 cm/sec

Ut = K (ρs-pw) g d²/18 μ
Here,
K = 0.843 log (0.75/0.065) = 0.90
Ut = 0.90 x (1.65-1) x 980 x (0.1031)2 / 18 x 0.01
So,
Ut = 33.86 cm/sec

Calculations for larger Particles:

Bed Height (cm) Volumetric flow Linear Velocity Voidage

rate (cm3/sec) (cm/sec)
2.46 0.00 0.00 0.00
3.69 5.53 0.17 0.41
4.30 8.61 0.26 0.53
5.91 12.31 0.38 0.71

((0.005) X (0.69)^3 X ((0.10312) X(1.65−1) X 980

U mf =
(1−0.69) X 0.01
U mf = 1.52 cm/sec

Ut = K (ρs-pw) g d²/18 μ
Here,
K = 0.843 log (0.75/0.065) = 0.90
Ut = 0.90 x (1.65-1) x 980 x (0.1031)2 / 18 x 0.01
So,
Ut = 40.97 cm/sec
11
Graphical Comparison for larger Particles and smaller size Particles:

Smaller size particles

Larger size particles

12
Smaller size particles

Larger size particles

13
Results and Discussion:
▪ The experiments with two different sized sand particles is done.
▪ The minimum fluidization velocity for large and small particles were calculated.
▪ The theoretical minimum fluidization velocities for different particle mixtures are
also calculated.
▪ The experimental minimum fluidization velocity is 1.37 cm/s and 1.69 cm/s for the
small and large particles respectively.
▪ The theoretical minimum fluidization velocity calculated based on the different
equation lies close to the experimental value for the small particles.
▪ There is a significant difference in minimum fluidization velocity for both type of
particles.
▪ The experiment with smaller size particles gives a reduction in minimum
fluidization velocity of 60.8% compared to the minimum fluidization velocity with
larger particles.

References:
▪ Rowe, P. & Nienow, A.W., Minimum fluidization velocity of multi-component
particle mixtures. Chemical Engineering Science, 30(11), pp. 1365–1369, 1975.
▪ Jayarathna, C. & Halvorsen, B., Experimental and computational study of particle
minimum fluidization velocity and bed expansion in a bubbling fluidized bed. in
SIMS. 2009.
▪ Huilin, L., Yunhua, Z., Ding, J., Gidaspow, D. & Wei, L., Investigation of
mixing/segregation of mixture particles in gas–solid fluidized beds. Chemical
Engineering Science, 62(1–2), p. 301–317, 2007
▪ Pérez, N.P., Pedroso, D.T., Machin, E.B., Antunes, J.S., Ramos, R.A.V. &
Silveira, J.L., Fluid dynamic study of mixtures of sugarcane bagasse and sand
particles: Minimum fluidization velocity. Biomass and Bioenergy, 107, pp. 135–
149, 2017

14
15