Minimum Fluidizing Velocities for Various Bed Packings By Andrew Maycock

Introduction to Fluidization Fluid flowed through bottom of a fixed bed Fluid flowed through bottom of a fixed bed Fluidization is the balance of gravity, drag and buoyant forces Fluidization is the balance of gravity, drag and buoyant forces Suspended particles have larger effective surface area than a packed fixed bed Suspended particles have larger effective surface area than a packed fixed bed The smallest velocity at which fluidization occurs is the minimum fluidization velocity The smallest velocity at which fluidization occurs is the minimum fluidization velocity

Fluidization Apparatus Figure 1: Example of fluidization bed

Overview Theoretical Approach Theoretical Approach Experimental Approach Experimental Approach Results Results Method Summaries Method Summaries Conclusions Conclusions Q&A Q&A

Theoretical Approach Bernoulli’s Equation Bernoulli’s Equation Correlations for friction loss terms through porous media Correlations for friction loss terms through porous media

Ergun Equation Sphericity term included Sphericity term included Composed of known or obtainable parameters Composed of known or obtainable parameters

Minimum Fluidizing Velocity Ergun Equation solved simultaneously with force balance. Ergun Equation solved simultaneously with force balance. May assume that flow is laminar (N Re < 20) (Equation reduces to laminar friction term) May assume that flow is laminar (N Re < 20) (Equation reduces to laminar friction term)

Experimental Approach Figure 2: Example of fluidization bed

Determining MFV Change occurs in slope of pressure drop plot Change occurs in slope of pressure drop plot Figure 3: Plot of pressure drop vs. Fluid Velocity

Particle Properties Graduated cylinder for bed density Graduated cylinder for bed density Displaced volume for particle density Displaced volume for particle density Microscopic photos for sphericity Microscopic photos for sphericity

Experimental Procedure Glass Beads and Pulverized Coal Glass Beads and Pulverized Coal Increase mass flowrate Increase mass flowrate Measure pressure drop across bed Measure pressure drop across bed Change temperature and repeat Change temperature and repeat Determine fluid properties using correlations and equations of state Determine fluid properties using correlations and equations of state

Experimental Problems Poor Distribution Poor Distribution Faulty or imprecise pressure gauges Faulty or imprecise pressure gauges Difficulty in determining when fluidization has been reached Difficulty in determining when fluidization has been reached

Results

Pulverized Coal Results Figure 3: Microscopic photo of pulverized coal

Pulverized Coal Results (cont.) Figure 4: Pressure drop data and Ergun Equation for pulverized coal at 26.2 °C

Pulverized Coal Results (cont.) Figure 5: Pressure drop data and Ergun Equation for pulverized coal at 32.8 °C

Pulverized Coal Results (cont.) Figure 6: Pressure drop data and Ergun Equation for pulverized coal at 39.9 °C

Pulverized Coal Results (cont.) Example of results for pulverized coal

Glass Bead Results Figure 7: Microscopic photo of glass beads

Glass Bead Results (cont.) Figure 8: Pressure drop data and Ergun Equation for glass beads at 30.0 °C

Glass Bead Results (cont.) Figure 9: Pressure drop data and Ergun Equation for glass beads at 37.8 °C

Glass Bead Results (cont.) Figure 10: Pressure drop data and Ergun Equation for glass beads at 42.1 °C

Glass Bead Results (cont.) Example of results for glass beads

The Laminar Assumption

The Laminar Assumption (cont.) Reported to be accurate for Particle Reynolds Numbers under 20 Reported to be accurate for Particle Reynolds Numbers under 20 More accurate as Reynolds Numbers get smaller More accurate as Reynolds Numbers get smaller Typical values within 15-30% of Ergun Equation Typical values within 15-30% of Ergun Equation Has no consistent relation to experimental value Has no consistent relation to experimental value

Experimental Summary Experimental determination is accurate and necessary Experimental determination is accurate and necessary Difficult to determining exact value for minimum fluidizing velocity Difficult to determining exact value for minimum fluidizing velocity Error in minimum fluidizing velocity measurement based on test interval Error in minimum fluidizing velocity measurement based on test interval

Correlation Summary Provide a good estimate for actual fluidizing velocity. Provide a good estimate for actual fluidizing velocity. Require difficult estimation of bed height and void fraction for operation above minimum fluidizing velocity. Require difficult estimation of bed height and void fraction for operation above minimum fluidizing velocity. Ergun Equation can show unrealistic results, as in this case. Ergun Equation can show unrealistic results, as in this case. Decent estimation requires accurate particle property values (void fraction and particle density are difficult to determine due to adsorption). Decent estimation requires accurate particle property values (void fraction and particle density are difficult to determine due to adsorption).

Conclusions Correlations are useful, but not substitute for actual experimentation Correlations are useful, but not substitute for actual experimentation Experimentation necessary because of inaccurate and imprecise instrumentation Experimentation necessary because of inaccurate and imprecise instrumentation Correlations are useful for industrial processes which are usually operated at two to three times the minimum fluidizing velocity Correlations are useful for industrial processes which are usually operated at two to three times the minimum fluidizing velocity

References de Nevers, Noel, Air Pollution Control Engineering, 2nd ed. Mc-Graw Hill, New York (2005). de Nevers, Noel, Air Pollution Control Engineering, 2nd ed. Mc-Graw Hill, New York (2005). de Nevers, Noel, Fluid Mechanics for Chemical Engineers, 3rd ed. Mc-Graw Hill, New York (2005). de Nevers, Noel, Fluid Mechanics for Chemical Engineers, 3rd ed. Mc-Graw Hill, New York (2005). Seader, J.D. and Henley, Ernest J., Separation Process Principles, 2nd ed.Wiley, Danver, Massachusetts (2006). Seader, J.D. and Henley, Ernest J., Separation Process Principles, 2nd ed.Wiley, Danver, Massachusetts (2006). Wikipedia, Sphericity, Wikipedia, Sphericity,

Questions 5 Minute Question Period 5 Minute Question Period