Foreword

Welcome to value-conscious company. We are proud of the advanced engineering and

quality construction of each equipment we manufacture.
This manual explains the working of equipment. Please read it thoroughly and have all
the occupants follow the instructions carefully. Doing so will help you enjoy many years
of safe and trouble free operation.
When it comes to service remember that K.C. Engineers knows your equipment best
and is interested in your complete satisfaction. We will provide the quality maintenance
and any other assistance you may require.
All the information and specifications in this manual are current at the time of printing.
However, Because of K.C. Engineers policy of continual product improvement we
reserve the right to make changes at any time without notice.
Please note that this manual explains all about the equipment including options.
Therefore you may find some explanations for options not installed on your equipment.
You must follow the instructions and maintenance instructions given in the manual
carefully to avoid possible injury or damage. Proper maintenance will help ensure
maximum performance, greater reliability and longer life for the product.

K.C. Engineers

Contents
1.

Objective

. 1

2.

Aim

3.

Introduction

1
1

4.

Theory

5.

Description

6.

Utilities Required

7.

Experimental Procedure

8.

Observation & Calculation

9.

Nomenclature

10.

Precautions & Maintenance Instructions

11.

Troubleshooting

12.

References

Flow Through Fluidized Bed

FLOW THROUGH FLUIDIZED BED

1.

OBJECTIVE:
To study the flow through fluidized bed
To study the relationship between velocity of fluid and pressure drop per unit
length of bed.

2.

AIM:
To determine velocity of fluid and pressure drop per unit length of bed. & Plot
a curve between these two parameters.

3.

INTRODUCTION:
The terms fluidization and fluidized bed are used to describe the condition
of fully suspended particles, since the suspension behaves like a dense fluid. If
the bed is tilted, the top surface remains horizontal and large objects will either
float or sink in the bed depending on their density relative to the suspension.
The fluidized solids can be drained from the bed through pipes and valves just
like a liquid and this fluidity is one of the main advantages in the use of
fluidization for handling solids. Fluidized beds are used successfully in a
multitude of processes both catalytic and non catalytic.

4.

THEORY:
Fluidization, or fluidizing, converts a bed of solid particles into an expanded,
suspended mass that has many properties of a liquid. This 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.

Flow Through Fluidized Bed

Fixed Bed

Fluidized Bed
B

Log
(Pressure
Drop)

A
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
Froudes Number (V/g Dp)
If Fr. No. <1

Particulate fluidization

Fr. No. >1

Aggregative fluidization

Pressure drop across a fixed bed is given by Erguns equation:

P 3 DP 150(1 )
=
D PV P
Z (1 ) V 2

------------ (1)

ZA WS / P
WS
= 1
ZA
ZA P

------------ (2)

At the onset of fluidization, the pressure drop across the bed equals the weight
of bed per unit area of cross section.
P
= g ( )(1 )
Z

Flow Through Fluidized Bed

----------- (3)

Minimum fluidization velocity

V mf =

3 g p 2 D 2 p
(1 )150

POROSITY OF THE STATIC BED (

o):
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:

o =

V1 + V2 V3
V1

POROSITY OF THE FLUIDIZED BED (

):
If Zo and o are the height and porosity of the static bed and Z and are the
height and porosity of the fluidized bed, then:

z (1 )= Z o (1 o )
1

5.

Zo
(1 o )
Z

=1

Zo
(1 o )
Z

DESCRIPTION:
The apparatus consists of a glass column packed with spherical glass beads
and the water flows through the Rotameter, fitted in pipeline. The pump taken
the water and passes to the column and discharge is controlled by using the ball
valve and the gate wall. Pressure tapings are taken out from inlet and outlet
pressure, are connected to a differential manometer. Discharge is measured
with the help of Rotameter.

6.

UTILITIES REQUIRED:
Electricity Supply: Single Phase, 220VAC, 50Hz, 5kW with earth connection.
Bench Area Required: 0.75 m x 0.75 m
CCl4 with Iodine pellet for manometer

Flow Through Fluidized Bed

100 ml

7.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
1. Note down the initial height of bed in column.
2. Start with the minimum flow of water in the column at a constant rate. Note
the flow rate, bed height (Z) and pressure drop across the column (P) after
steady state is reached.
3. Gradually increase the flow rate of water steadily and repeat step (2) for 8 10 different water flow rates.
4. Continue till the bed is fluidized and finally becomes turbulent (i.e. till
there is no appreciable change in pressure drop indicated by manometer)

8.

OBSERVATION & CALCULATION:

DATA:

0.05 m

9.8 m/s2

1570, kg/m3

1000, kg/m3

0.3

OBSERVATION:

Zo

= ---------------, m = -------------

OBSERVATION TABLE:

S.No

Z, m

Q, LPH

R1, cm

R2, cm

CALCULATIONS:

R=

R1 R 2
, m = ------------ m
100

v=

Q 10 3
,m / s = ------------------ m/s
3600 A

Flow Through Fluidized Bed

A=

h =

D 2 , m2= ----------------- m2

R m

1 , m of water = ------------------ m
100 w

P m g h
, N/m3 = --------------- N/m3
=
Z
Z

= 1

9.

10.

Zo
(1 o ) = -----------------Z

NOMENCLATURE:
A

Cross sectional area of column, m

Inside column diameter, m

Gravitational acceleration, m/s2

Pressure drop, N/m

Volumetric flow rate, LPH

Velocity of fluid, m/s

V1

Initial volume of packing in the cylinder, ml

V2

Volume of water to the cylinder, ml

V3

Final volume in the cylinder, ml

Bed height, m

Zo

Initial height of static bed, m

Density of water, kg/m3

Density of manometer fluid, kg/m3

Porosity of fluidized bed

Initial porosity of static bed.

PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Never run the apparatus if power supply is less than 180 volts and above
230 volts.
2. Never fully close the Delivery line and By-Pass line Valves
simultaneously.
3. To prevent clogging of moving parts, Run Pump at least once in a fortnight.
4. Frequently Grease/Oil the rotating parts, once in three months.

Flow Through Fluidized Bed

5. Always use clean water.

6. If apparatus will not in use for more than one month, drain the apparatus
completely, and fill pump with cutting oil.
7. Always keep apparatus free from dust.

11. TROUBLESHOOTING:
1. If pump gets jam, open the back cover of pump and rotate the shaft
manually.
2. If pump gets heat up, switch off the main power for 15 minutes and avoid
closing the flow control valve and by pass valve simultaneously during
operation

12. REFERENCES:
1. McCabe Smith, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering 7th ed,
McGraw-Hill, NY, 2005, Page 177-182
2. Alan S. Foust, L.A.Wenzel, Principles Of Unit Operations 2nd ed.,
John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1980, Page 642-643.

Flow Through Fluidized Bed