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Module 9: Packed beds

Lecture 34: Examples on fixed and fluidized beds

Fluidized bed condition:

Ergun's equation:

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Module 9: Packed beds

Lecture 34: Examples on fixed and fluidized beds

Example Catalyst pellets 0.2 in diameter are to be fluidized with of air at 1

1: atm and in a vertical cylindrical vessel. The density of the catalyst particles is

. If the given quantity of air is just sufficient to fluidize the

solids, what is the vessel diameter?

Answer: Assume (inertial effects are dominant)

Check,

(So the assumption of inertial effects being dominant is correct)

As an exercise, the students can calculate

:

Check.,
(So the flow is not viscous)

Vessel-Area (cross-section)

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Module 9: Packed beds

Lecture 34: Examples on fixed and fluidized beds

Example 2: We plan to pass air upward through a bed of solids resting on a screen. Will the
solids fluidize?
Solids:

Air:

Bed: 2m (Height);
Answer:

(Fig. 34a)

Therefore, bed will not fluidize

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Module 9: Packed beds

Lecture 34: Examples on fixed and fluidized beds

Example 3: A packed bed of spherical particles is fluidized

using air at and pressure . The packedbed density is
and superficial air velocity is from Ergun's
equation and fluidize bed condition-equation.
Solution:
Fluidized bed condition:

(Fig. 34b)

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Module 9: Packed beds

Lecture 34: Examples on fixed and fluidized beds

Ergun's equation:

Therefore, there is a difference of one-order of magnitude

To sumup, Ergun's equation is valid only for fixedbed, when

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