1

1.0

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Background of the experiment

In a packed bed of small particles, when fluid enters at sufficient velocity from the

bottom and passed up through the particles, the particles are push upward and the bed expands
and become fluidized. The phenomenon can be encountered both in nature like the natural
movement of ground water, crude petroleum or natural gas, through porous media as well as in
industrial operations like backwashing filters, ion exchange processes, extraction of soluble
components from raw materials and for certain types of chemical reactor. The fluidized bed
behaves differently as velocity, gas and solid properties are varied. There are different of regimes
of fluidization as shown in figure 1.1 below.

Figure 1.1: Fluidization regimes

In this experiment, the characteristics of fluidization in gas-solid system are studied by
using fine sand. The behavior, pressure drop and the thickness of fluidized bed form are studied
throughout the experiment. The important phenomenon of bubbling that occurs in gas-solid
systems can be observed when the gas velocity is in the excess of that required for fluidization in
the transparent wall.

1.2

Problem statement
Many industries use widely the application of fluidized bed for their processes. However,

the variation of the condition of the process would effect on fluidized beds performance. Hence
it is important to study the effect of various operation conditions like inlet air flow and how it
can affect the process.
1.3

Objective of the experiment

The objective of the experiment is to study the behaviour of fluidization.

1.4

Scopes of the experiment

The scope of the experiment is to investigate the principles of fluidization of fine sand

using fluidized bed. In addition, to study the effect of different air flowrate supplied to the
system on the characteristics of fluidized bed such as the thickness and the condition of fluidized
bed formed, and also the pressure drop.
1.5

Significant Of The Study

The experiment will examine the condition that could be the best for the fluidization

process, since the fluidization process is become very important in industrial sectors. Besides
that, it enables industries to know when the different regimes of fluidization can be occurred.

2.0

LITERATURE REVIEW

Fluidized beds are used widely in chemical processing industries for separations, rapid
mass and heat transfer operations, and catalyic reactions. A typical fluidized bed is a cylindrical
column that contains particles and through which fluid, either gaseous or liquid, flows. In the
case of fluidized bed reactors, the particles would contain a catalyst, and for separations, the
particles might be an absorbent or adsorbent. The velocity of the fluid is sufficiently high to
suspend, or fluidize, the particles within the column, providing a large surface area for the fluid
to contact, which is the chief advantage of fluidized beds. As shown in Figure 1, fluidized beds
range in size from small laboratory-scale devices to very large industrial systems.
Regardless of whether the fluidized bed is used for a separation or reaction, a key goal is
to operate the bed at a flow rate that optimizes the application. Accurate models would aid
significantly, but modeling, even at a qualitative level, of the complex dynamics in fluidized beds
continues to challenge engineers and scientists. The challenge arises from the necessity of
considering both the solid and fluid phases and the interplay between them to form a complete
picture for understanding the properties of fluidization. The general stages of fluidized bed were
exhibited in figure 2.1 and as summarized below (Swarbrick & Boylan, 1992):

Figure 2.1: Types of fluidized bed with different gas velocity (Pharmainfo.net)
1. When a fluid is pumped upward through a bed of fine solid particles at a very low flow
rate the fluid percolates through the void spaces (pores) without disturbing the bed. This
is known as a Fixed or Static bed process.

2. When the drag force exceeds the gravitational force, the particles begin to lift and the bed
expands (the height increases), thus increasing the bed porosity. Hence, this is known as
expanded bed process.
3. If the gas velocity increases in bed porosity, it will decrease the overall drag until it is
balanced by the total gravitational force exerted on the solid particles. This is known as
Mobilized bed process.
4. If the gas velocity is increased still further, expansion of the bed will continue to occur.
The solid particles will become somewhat separated from each other and move around in
a restless manner. Increasing the velocity just a slight amount causes further instabilities
and some of the gas starts bypassing the rest of the bed in the form of bubbles. This is
known as Bubbling condition.
5. These bubbles grow in size as they rise up the column. Coincidentally with this, the
solids in the bed begin moving upward, downward, and around in a highly agitated
fashion, appearing as a boiling frothing mixture. With part of the gas bubbling through
the bed and the solids being moved around as though they were part of the fluid, the bed
of particles is said to be fluidized with Floating condition.
6. If further increase in velocity of air occurs, eventually the lifting force of passing air
blows particle out of the bed altogether leading to Pneumatic transport or unstable chaotic
operation of the bed.

Figure 2.2: Conditions for fluidization

Figure 2.3: Pressure drop and bed height

An equation in determining the minimum fluidization velocity can be obtained by setting
the pressure drop across the bed equal to the weight of the bed per unit area of cross section,
allowing for the buoyant force of the displaced fluid:
p

g (1-) (p - ) L
gc

At incipient fluidization , is the minimum void fraction (m) of the bed.

p

g (1-M) (p - )
gc

The types of fluidization also can be identified by Ergun equation. If laminar flow is
occurred the flow is laminar, laminar flow means the gas velocity existed in very small particles
is in low rate. The equation will be:
2

P 150 V 0 (1)
=
2
2 3
L
S D P

But, if the flow is turbulent, means the flow existed in small particles is at highly rate and
causing floating, the equation will be:

6
2

P 1.75 V 0 (1)
=
3
L
S D P
3.0

METHODOLOGY

3.1

Equipment use

3.2

Experimental procedure
1
2
3

The power switch was turned on.

The air flow rate (L/min) was adjusted to 5 L/min and wait for two minute.
The behavior of the fluidized bed of fine sand was observed when reach two minute and
the thickness of the bed fine sand (cm) and pressure drop (mmH2O) were measured and

recorded.
The measurement, recording and observation were repeated for 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,

13, 14, and 15 L/min every minute.

The experiment is ended when there a big gap of the fine sand in the tube (burst). The
power switch was turned off after the experiment was done.

4.0

Result

4.1

Analysis

Table 4.1 shows the data of pressure drop and fluid velocity. These data was used to plot
graph log pressure drop versus log fluid velocity.
Table 4.1: Data of pressure drop and fluid velocity
Air Flowrate

Pressure different, P

u (cm/s)

log P

log u

(L/min)
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

(mm H2O)
242
290
305
310
308
310
311
313
315
305
100

4.43
5.3
6.2
7.07
7.98
8.87
9.75
10.64
11.53
12.41
13.30

2.38
2.46
2.48
2.49
2.49
2.49
2.49
2.50
2.50
2.48
2

0.646
0.724
0.792
0.849
0.902
0.948
0.989
1.027
1.062
1.094
1.124

From the graph, the point of fluidization is:

log (P)

= 2.50

log u

= 1.062

Therefore,
Air velocity, u

= 11.53 cm/s

Pressure different, P

= 315 mm H2O

Graph Log P versus log u

12
10
8
log P

6
4
2
0
0.6

f(x) 0.7
=
R = 0

0.8

0.9

1.1

log u

Figure 4.1: Graph log P versus log u

This equation is used to calculate the opening at the fluidization condition.
P

( 1 - m ) =
m =

g ( 1 - m ) ( p - ) L
P / [ gL ( p - ) ]

1 - {P / [ gL ( p - ) ]}

(fine sand density = 2.22098 g/cm3)

From the calculation,
P

315 mm H2O = 3089.0947 pa

11.5 cm

9.81 m/s2

2.22098 g/cm3 = 2220.98 kg/m3

1.18 kg/m3 (25oC)

= 0.115 m

Therefore,
m

1 - {P / [ gL ( p - ) ]}

1 - {3089.0947/ [9.81 x 0.115 (2220.98 1.18)] }

1.2

=
5.0

-0.2335

Discussion
Figure 4.1 indicates that the pressure drop is increasing to the air flow rate as the air flow

rate is increased because the bed continuous to expand and remains homogenous for a time. This
behaviour is proved from Ergun equation. From the experiment, it was found that the fluidization
point was at 315 mm

H2O

and the air flowrate is 11.53 cm/s. There was a transition point

where the pressure drop nearly becomes constant. However, the pressure drop will be decreased
after the fluidization point as there is a big gap of the fine sand in the tube (burst) in which the
experiment should be stopped.
The sand bed is started to form bubbles at the surface when the air flow rate is adjusted to
5.0 L/ min. The flowrate below 5.0 L/ min resulted in unchanging of the thickness of the fine
layer. This behaviour was due to the small amount of airflow supplied which was not sufficient
enough to move the fine sand weight which acted towards below. Thickness started to increase as
fine particle started to buoy like fluid with the increasing of air flowrate from 5.0 L/ min until to
the point where the thickness remain unchanged. This showed that the air velocity of 5.0 L/ min
is the minimum velocity in which fine sand start to move. During bubbling fluidization, the gas
passes through the bed as voids or bubbles which contain few particles and only a small
percentage of gas able to pass between the sand particles
Porosity or void fraction is a measure of the void (i.e., "empty") spaces in a material, and
is a fraction of the volume of voids over the total volume. In this experiment, it was found that
the porosity of the sand bed is 0.2335.

5.1

Errors and Precaution

There are several errors occurs when conducting this experiment as listed below;

10

i.

The present of air or bubble inside the tube and affects the reading of pressure
scale. The tube should be checked to ensure there is no air has been trapped inside

ii.

it before experiment start.

Fluctuation of air flow rate from time to time. The observer should aware with the

iii.

changes of the air flow rate from time to time.

Parallax errors while taking the reading of pressure drop as well as sand bed

iv.

height. The observers eyes should always in line with the reading of the ruler.
The sand bed is not packed enough before the experiment started. The sand
particles should check and knock the glasses lightly in order to make it become
packed.

6.1

CONCLUSION
From this experiment, it was found that the pressure drop is increased with the

increasing of air flowrate until the onset of minimum fluidization in which confirm with
Ergun equation. After the fluidization point, the pressure drop might decreased. The
fluidization point of the sand bed is 315 mm

H2O

the porosity value of the particle layer is 0.2335.

7.0

REFERENCES

and the air flowrate is 11.53 cm/s while

11

McCabe, W. L., (1993) Unit Operation of Chemical Engineering, New York: McGraw
Hill, Inc.,.

Geankoplis, C. J., (2014) Transport Processes & Separation Process Principles,

Edinburg: Pearson New International Edition.,

Kunii, D., Levenspiel, O. (1991) Fluidization Engineering, Butterworth-Heinemann

(Stoneham), 2nd edition, 24

Fluidized Bed Systems: A Review, Retrieved from www.pharmainfo.net/freebooks/fluidized-bed-systems-review on Sunday, 10th October 2015