Permeability and Fluidization

Problem C2 and C3
Group Members: Castillo, Arlyn
Dela Cruz, Liezyl
Escover, Jhealuz
Pangilinan, Jerina

Objective
To determine the permeability
and the filtration grain
diameter of a porous granular
media (sand)

Theory
Darcys Law linear relationship between
headloss (h) and the flow rate expressed as
approach to velocity
Va =

Where:

= hydraulic gradient

k = permeability
Va = volumetric flow rate per unit area

 Permeability a property of
porous media in which a fluid can
flow through the media in
response to pressure gradient.
k=

3
5 1

2
( )
6

Where:
= density of fluid
g = acceleration due to gravity
= dynamic viscosity of the fluid
= porosity of the permeable media
d = diameter of grains constituting the porous
media

 Kozeny Carman analogy that the

bundle of tortuous capillary tubes
could represent the porous media
and that an equivalent hydraulic
radius could be developed for
granular porous media.

5 (1 )2 6 2
=
( )
3

Equipment / Apparatus / Materials

Permeability & Fluidization apparatus (with
mercury manometer and Perspex column)
Electronic balance

Pre-sieved sand (0.540 kg)

Thermometer
Beaker

Procedure
Start Up
Preparation of Media and filling column
Experimental Procedure

Turn on water
supply

Close valve (1) and

open valves (5, 6, 7,
8)

Open valves (1, 2)

and close valves (3,
4)

Open valve (2) and

valve (3)

Close valve (2) open

valves (1) and (4)

Close valves (1, 2)

open valves (4, 5, 6)

Close valve (3)

Unscrew air-release
screw at the top of
the column

Continue water thru

empty apparatus in
an upward direction
thru column

Open valve (2) then tighten

air-release screw

Insert column back to the

apparatus and screw it to
place

Remove Perspex column and

pour sand into column
containing water

close all the valves and open

air-release screw

Pre-sieve sand into uniform

size and weigh 0.54 kg

Close valves (1, 2, 3, 4) and tap gently

along Perspex column

Read temperature of
water leaving
experiment period

Insert drain tube (4) to beaker

with thermometer
Read media surface
level zero to both
manometers

Open valves (1, 4) and do 7

settings of flow rate

Note manometer reading and

temperature or exit water for
each setting

Sample Calculations
fraction of pore volume
Por, =
total volume
167.53
167.53
=
=
= 0.3978877505
3
4 2 (33.5) 402.9734156
4

Sample Calculations
,
Velocity, V =
. ,
3 1
13
100

60 1003 3
: =
= 0.001326291192
2

(4)2 2
4
1002 2

Sample Calculations

2399.802632
0.335

7163.59

Sample Calculations
From Handbook at 26C of water:

Density = 993.4847572 3

= 8.9276943104 .

Sample Calculations
For filtration grain diameter, d
5 (1 )2 6 2
=
( )
3

1
5 (1 )2 6 2 1
6
=
(
)
=
=
610
3

Sample Calculations
5(0.00089276943 ) (1 0.39788736)2
6 2
= ( ) = 6106
3

0.39788736

(993.4847572 3 )(9.81 2 )

= 3.9790021106 = 0.003979
0.5 0.003979
% =
100 = 99.999%
0.5

Data
Table 1 Summary of Results
Flow Rate
(cm3/min)

Velocity, Vs
(mm/s)

0
100
200
300
400
500
600
500
400
300
200
100

0
1.3263
2.6526
3.9789
5.3052
6.6315
7.9577
6.6315
5.3052
3.9789
2.6526
1.3263

TRIAL 1

TRIAL 2

Manometer Difference
(mmHg)
0
0
18
18
26
38
44
46
48
76
100
94
108
112
92
94
74
76
54
58
36
40
18
20

Head loss, h (Pa)

0
2399.802632
4266.315789
5999.506579
8265.986842
12932.26974
14665.46053
12398.98026
9999.177632
7466.052632
5066.25
2533.125

Head loss vs Velocity

16000

14000
12000

h (Pa)

10000

8000
Increasing
6000

Decreasing

4000
2000
0
0

6
Va (mm/s)

10

Hydraulic Gradient vs Velocity

50000
45000

y = 6E+06x + 269.95
R = 0.9997

dh/dL (Pa/m)

40000
35000
30000

Increasing

25000
20000

Decreasing

15000
Linear
(Decreasing)

10000
5000
0

0, 0
0

0.005
Va (m/s)

0.01

Answers to Questions:
1. What is the importance of knowing the
permeability of a given porous medium? In
what particular areas in chemical
engineering is the concept of permeability
most relevant? Give examples.

Porosity and permeability are primary factors that

control the movement and storage of fluids in rocks and
sediments. Thus, the evaluation of the permeability of a
given porous medium is important in quantifying the
flow rate of the fluid through a packed bed or reservoir.
This concept of permeability is important in many fields
of chemical engineering such as in petrochemical and
oil mining industry. It is also applicable in water
purification, calculation of seepage rate from waste
water facilities, pharmaceutical industry at the same

Answers to Questions:
2. What operating parameters must be
considered in determining the permeability
of a given porous media? Does the choice
of liquid affect the result of the
experiment? Explain your answers.

The factors that affect the permeability of a given

porous, considering that the pressure difference is
constant, are the grain size, diameter and shape and
the porosity of the granular media. The choice of
liquid affects the result of the experiment since the
permeability varies depending on property of fluid
used. If the fluid used is more viscous, the fluid will
have a hard time passing through the pores thus
decreasing the permeability.

During the flow of the fluid through the

porous medium, the flow rate is directly
proportional to its pressure drop.
o the hydraulic gradient and head loss has linear
relationship which is in accordance to Darcys
Law.
o The calculated porosity and filtration grain
diameter was 0.3979 and 0.003979mm
respectively.
o The experimental porosity is within the sand
range of porosity while the experimental

 to check the apparatus before

starting the experiment in order
to avoid leaks and other
important factors that may
affect the readings.

maintain the pressure inside the

column by releasing the air
accumulating in the column.

gently tap the Perspex column to

ensure that less air will be
trapped in the voids of the sand.

THANK YOU