Fluidization Engineering

(noc24-ch57)
Problem Solving Session-4 Date: 17.08.2024 (Saturday 03.00 p.m. – 05.00 p.m.)
Course Instructor: Prof. Subrata K Majumder, Department of Chemical Engineering,
IIT Guwahati.
Live session TA: Ainkara Karthiga R, Research scholar, Department of Chemical Engineering,
IIT Hyderabad.

1
 Course Layout
Week - 1-2: Introduction: The phenomenon of fluidization; Advantages and disadvantages of fluidized beds; Industrial
applications of fluidized beds
Week - 3: Characteristics of solids: Classification of solids; Flow characteristics and its outline in the different types of
fluidization.
Week - 4-5: Flow pattern of fluidization system: Flow patter, flow pattern transition, flow pattern map, Frictional pressure
drop and its model to analyze, Solid movement, mixing, segregation and staging
Week - 6: Gas distribution: Type of gas distributors in small and large scale industries, Design of distributor
Week - 7: Bubbling fluidized beds: Gas dispersion and gas interchange in bubbling beds, mixing characteristics
Week - 8: Entrainment and elutriation from fluidized beds
Week - 9: Attrition: Attrition mechanism and its analysis by model
Week - 10-11: Mass transfer phenomena: Particle to gas mass transfer phenomena and its analysis by model in two and
three phase system and modeling
Week - 12: Heat Transfer phenomena: Heat transfer between fluidized beds and surfaces and modeling
Design of fluidized bed reactors: Design for physical operation, catalytic and non-catalytic systems

2
Books and references
1. D. Kunii and O. Levenspiel, Fluidization Engineering, Butterworth, 1991.
2. D. Gidaspow, Multiphase flow and fluidization: continuum and kinetic theory description, Elsevier
Science & Technology Books, 1993
3. L.G. Gibilaro, Fluidization-dynamics, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001
4. S. K. Majumder, Hydrodynamics and Transport Processes of Inverse Bubbly Flow, 1st ed. Elsevier,
Amsterdam (2016)

3
 Q1
Which one of the following does not influence the pressure drop inside the bed at particulate
fluidization conditions?
a. Head
b. Friction
c. Acceleration of the solids
d. Velocity

Answer:
d. Velocity

4
 Q2
When the gas-solid two-phase flow in the riser reaches a fully developed state, the value of acceleration
pressure-drop, (dp/dz)acc should be
a. 0
b. 1
c. 1.5
d. 2

Answer:
a. 0

5
 Q3
The frictional pressure drop is caused by which among the following:
(i). The frictional force between the solid and the walls of the bed
(ii). The frictional force between gas and solid
(iii). The frictional force between the gas and the wall of the riser
a. (i), (ii) & (iii)
b. Only (iii)
c. (i) & (iii)
d. (ii) & (i)

Answers:
a. (i), (ii) & (iii)

6
 Q4
Fluid friction factor is calculated using the empirical Blasius formula for Reynolds number Ref > 2300.
24
a. 𝑓𝑓 =
𝑅𝑒𝑓
0.079
b. 𝑓𝑓 = 𝑅𝑒 0.25
𝑓

24
c. 𝑓𝑓 = 𝑅𝑒 0.5
𝑓

0.079
d. 𝑓𝑓 = 𝑅𝑒 0.75
𝑓

Answer:
0.079
b. 𝑓𝑓 = 𝑅𝑒 0.25
𝑓

7
 Q5
Consider that the particle is circulating with its terminal velocity in the bed. A bubbling fluidized bed of
height 1.2 m and diameter 0.04 m is operated by air at an air superficial velocity of 0.15 m/s with sand
particles of effective diameter 112 µm. Given that the air density is 1.2 kg/m3 and the density of the sand
particle is 2600 kg/m3. Voidage of the bed is 0.55. The sphericity of particles is 0.85. The viscosity of the gas
is 1.8 *10-5 kg/m.s. Calculate the terminal velocity of the particle in m/s.
a. 0.656
b. 0.916
c. 0.987
d. 0.1691

Answer:
c. 0.987

8
 Q5 Answer
a. Given:
a. Bed: Height = 1.2 m, Diameter = 0.04, Voidage = 0.55
b. Fluid: Air - Superficial velocity = 0.15 m/s, Density = 1.2 kg/m3, Viscosity = 1.8 *10-5 kg/m.s
c. Particles: Sand - Effective diameter =112 µm, Density = 2600 kg/m3, Sphericity = 0.85

b. To find:
a. Terminal velocity

c. Formula:
2 𝜌 −𝜌
𝑑𝑝 𝑝 𝑓
a. 𝑢𝑡 = 𝑔 18𝜇

d. Calculation:
a. ut=9.81*(112*10-6)2 * (2600-1.2)/(18*1.8*10-5) = 0.9870 m/s

9
 Q6
Calculate the fanning friction factor of particle by using fanning equation for gas-solid fluidized bed of
diameter 0.08 m where frictional force per unit volume between solid phase and wall is 5.422 N/m3.
Voidage of the bed is 0.55. The particle density and velocity are 2600 kg/m3 and 0.3 m/s respectively.
a. 2.072 × 10-3
b. 2.096 × 10-3
c. 2.059 × 10-3
d. 2.051 × 10-3

Answers:
c. 2.059 × 10-3

10
 Q6 Answer
a. Given:
a. Bed diameter = 0.08 m
b. Frictional force per unit volume between solid phase and wall = 5.422 N/m3
c. Voidage of the bed = 0.55
d. Particle density = 2600 kg/m3
e. Particle velocity = 0.3 m/s
b. To find:
a. Fanning friction factor using fanning equation
c. Formula:
2
𝑢𝑝
𝑑𝑝
a. 𝑑𝑧 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙
= 2 𝑓𝑝 1 − 𝜀 𝜌𝑝 𝑑
𝑏𝑒𝑑

d. Calculation:
a. 5.422 = 2*fp *(1-0.55)*2600 *0.32/0.08; fp = 2.0596 * 10-3

11
 Q7
Consider that the particle is circulating with its terminal velocity in the bed. A bubbling fluidized bed of
height 1.2 m and diameter 0.04 m is operated by air at an air superficial velocity 0.09 m/s with sand particles
of effective diameter 105 µm. Given that the air density is 1.2 kg/m3 and the density of the sand particle is
2600 kg/m3. Voidage of the bed is 0.55. The sphericity of particles is 0.85. Calculate frictional pressure drop
between gas and the wall. The friction factor of gas is 0.166.
a. 0.1259
b. 0.1466
c. 0.1280
d. 0.1499

Answer:
b. 0.1466

12
 Q7 Answer
a. Given:
a. Bed: Height = 1.2 m, Diameter = 0.04, Voidage = 0.55
b. Fluid: Air - Superficial velocity = 0.09 m/s, Density = 1.2 kg/m3, Viscosity = 1.8 *10-5 kg/m.s
c. Particles: Sand - Effective diameter =105 µm, Density = 2600 kg/m3, Sphericity = 0.85.
d. Frictional factor of gas = 0.166

b. To find:
a. Frictional pressure drop between gas and the wall.

c. Formula:
𝑑𝑝 𝑢𝑠𝑓 2
a. 𝑑𝑧 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑−𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙
= 2 𝑓𝑓 𝜀 𝜌𝑓 𝜀
/𝑑𝑏𝑒𝑑

d. Calculation:
a. (dp/dz)fluid-wall = 2 * 0.166*0.55*1.2 * (0.09/0.55)2/0.04 = 0.1466

13
 Q8
Pressure drop in the gas-liquid-solid system is obtained by
a. Pressure drop due to (head + friction + acceleration)
b. Pressure drop due to (head + vacuum + acceleration)
c. Pressure drop due to (flow + head + friction)
d. Pressure drop due to (acceleration + slip + friction)

Answer:
a. Pressure drop due to (head + friction + acceleration)

14
 Q9
According to Wen and Yu (1966), the drag coefficient for fluid-solid and the drag coefficient for a single particle are inter-related as:
(where CD,f-p= Drag coefficient for fluid-solid particle; CD,p = Drag coefficient for single particle;
εg-l = Volume fraction for gas-liquid mixture; usg= Superficial velocity of gas
𝐶𝐷,𝑓−𝑝 8𝑢𝑠𝑔 −5.2
a. 𝐶𝐷,𝑝
= 𝜀𝑔−𝑙

𝐶𝐷,𝑓−𝑝 8𝑢𝑠𝑔 −5.4

b. 𝐶𝐷,𝑝
= 𝜀𝑔−𝑙

𝐶𝐷,𝑓−𝑝 8𝑢𝑠𝑔 −5.7

c. 𝐶𝐷,𝑝
= 𝜀𝑔−𝑙

𝐶𝐷,𝑓−𝑝 8𝑢𝑠𝑔 −5.0

d. 𝐶𝐷,𝑝
= 𝜀𝑔−𝑙

Answer:
𝐶𝐷,𝑓−𝑝 8𝑢𝑠𝑔 −5.7
c. = 𝜀𝑔−𝑙
𝐶𝐷,𝑝

15
 Q10
In Fanning equation
Where (dp/dz)particle-wall = particle-wall frictional pressure drop; up = Particle velocity
𝑑𝑝
a. ∝ 𝑢𝑝1.5
𝑑𝑧 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙

𝑑𝑝 13
b. 𝑑𝑧 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙
∝ 𝑢𝑝

𝑑𝑝 1/2
c. 𝑑𝑧 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙
∝ 𝑢𝑝

𝑑𝑝
d. ∝ 𝑢𝑝2
𝑑𝑧 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙

Answer:
2
𝑢𝑝
𝑑𝑝 𝑑𝑝
d. ∝ 𝑢𝑝2 = 2 𝑓𝑝 1 − 𝜀 𝜌𝑝
𝑑𝑧 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑧 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑏𝑒𝑑

16
 Q11
The friction factor (ff-w) for fluid for Reynolds number (Reg-l) < 2300 is calculated by (where ff-w= fluid
friction factor and Reg-l=Reynolds number of gas-liquid mixture
24
a. 𝑓𝑓−𝑤 =
𝑅𝑒𝑔−𝑙
0.079
b. 𝑓𝑓−𝑤 = 0.25
𝑅𝑒𝑔−𝑙

24
c. 𝑓𝑓−𝑤 = 𝑅𝑒 0.5
𝑔−𝑙

0.079
d. 𝑓𝑓−𝑤 = 𝑅𝑒 0.75
𝑔−𝑙

Answer:
24
a. 𝑓𝑓−𝑤 =
𝑅𝑒𝑔−𝑙

17
 Q12
In a three-phase fluidized bed when the liquid velocity increases then ΔPfr / L (where ΔPfr = Frictional
pressure drop; L = Length of the bed)
a. Increases
b. Decreases
c. Remains constant
d. None

Answer:
b. Decreases

18
 Q13
Bankoff model for bubbly flow is developed based on
a. Viscosity of phases
b. Density of phases
c. Interfacial shear stress
d. Flowrate of the medium

Answer:
c. Interfacial shear stress

19
 Q14
Which flow pattern is used for predicting frictional pressure drop according to the Wallis model (1969)?
a. Slurry flow
b. Annular flow
c. Multiphase flow
d. Vertical pipe flow

Answer:
b. Annular flow

20
 Q15
Property index (Ip) is represented by
Where μsl= Viscosity of slurry; μg= Viscosity of gas; ρg = density of gas; ρsl= density of slurry
𝜇𝑠𝑙 0.2 𝜇𝑠𝑙 0.4
𝜇𝑔 𝜇𝑔
a. 𝜌𝑠𝑙 c. 𝜌𝑠𝑙
𝜌𝑔 𝜌𝑔
𝜌𝑠𝑙 𝜌𝑠𝑙 0.4
𝜌𝑔 𝜌𝑔
b. 𝜇𝑠𝑙 0.2
d.
𝜇𝑠𝑙
𝜇𝑔 𝜇𝑔

Answer:
𝜇𝑠𝑙 0.2
𝜇𝑔
a. 𝜌𝑠𝑙
𝜌𝑔

21
 Q16
The frictional drop can be calculated using the Lockhart and Martinelli correlations in
a. Single-phase flow
b. Three-phase flow
c. Two-phase flow
d. Both (B) and (C)

Answers:
d. Both (B) and (C)

22
 Q17
In the fluidization process, the pressure drop is used to govern
a. Change of the fractional holdup of phase
b. Patterns of energy dissipation
c. Assessment of fluidized bed performance
d. All the above

Answer:
d. All the above

23
 Q18
With the increase of particle diameter, the minimum fluidization velocity
a. Remains constant
b. Increases
c. Decreases
d. None of the above

Answer:
b. Increases

24
 Q20
Which among the following equation can be used to define mixture friction factor (fm) ?
a. Bernoulli’s equation
b. Navier stokes equation
c. Fanning friction equation
d. Hagen poiseuille equation

Answer:
c. Fanning friction equation

26
 Q1
The multiphase flow behaviors’ are affected by
a. Interfacial tension forces
b. Wetting characteristics of the liquid on the channel wall
c. Contact angle and the exchange of mass, momentum, and energy between the phases
d. All the above

Answer:
d. All the above

27
Multiphase flows

Oil + water

• Two phase flows

Air + Oil +Water

• Three phase flows

Air + Ice + Water

• Three phase flows

28
 Q2
In the case of homogeneous or particulate fluidization
a. As the gas velocity increases, the bed expands smoothly in a homogeneous manner
b. Further increase of gas velocity, bubbles are formed in the bed
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. None of the above

Answer:
c. Both (a) and (b)

29
Fluidization regimes

Ref: Kunii and Levenspiel, 1991.

30
 Q3
In the case of bubbling fluidization, the
a. Bubble size increases as gas velocity increases
b. Bubble size decreases as gas velocity increases
c. Bubble size remains unchanged as gas velocity increases
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. Bubble size increases as gas velocity increases

31
 Q4
If most of the bed cross-section is captured by the bubble or void, the phenomena is called
a. Bubbling fluidization
b. Homogeneous fluidization
c. Slugging fluidization
d. All the above

Answer:
c. Slugging fluidization

32
 Q5
In which fluidization pattern, the clusters of particles move downward near the wall while gas
containing dispersed particle moves upwards in the interior.
a. Fast fluidization
b. Pneumatic Conveying Fluidization
c. Spouted Fluidization
d. All the above

Answer:
a. Fast fluidization

33
 Q6
In which fluidization pattern, the particles travel like a piston with relatively high pressure drop and a
high feed rate of particles
a. Fast fluidization
b. Pneumatic Conveying Fluidization
c. Spouted Fluidization
d. All the above

Answer:
b. Pneumatic Conveying Fluidization

34
 Q7
According to Bi and Grace (1995), the maximum stable bubble diameter at the slug condition should be
less than
a. 66% of the column diameter
b. 56% of the column diameter
c. 46% of the column diameter
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. 66% of the column diameter

35
 Q8
The rise velocity is controlled by the equipment, and they become slugs of gas when the size of the
bubble is greater than about
a. One-third of the diameter of the equipment
b. Two-third of the diameter of the equipment
c. Half of the diameter of the equipment
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. One-third of the diameter of the equipment

36
 Q9
Before achieving pneumatic transport, the transport operated fluidized bed (at a fixed solids flux, Gs)
also experience
a. Bubbly flow
b. Slug flow
c. Turbulent flow
d. All the above

Answer:
d. All the above

37
 Q10
In a batch-operated fluidized bed
a. The particles are not exiting from the bed
b. The particles fed in are transported out the top of the bed
c. Either (a) or (b)
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. The particles are not exiting from the bed

38
 Q11
The classical choking depends on the bubble size, which is related to
a. The relative motion between the gas and solids phase in case of continuous bed
b. On the superficial gas velocity in case of batch operated bed
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. None of the above

Answer:
c. Both (a) and (b)

39
Choking in vertical pneumatic systems
1. Type A: Accumulative choking: Solids start to accumulate at the bottom of the conveyor as
saturation gas carrying capacity is reached.

2. Type B: Blower / standpipe induced – Instabilities due to gas blower conveyor or solids feeder
conveyor

3. Type C: Classical choking – Transition to severe slugging

40
 Q12
What type of choking occurs when the diameter of a pipe is small and comparable to that of a bubble,
involving geometrical limitation besides hydrodynamic factors?
a. Accumulative choking
b. Classical choking
c. Blower/standpipe-induced choking
d. All the above

Answer:
b. Classical choking

41
 Q13
For the pseudo-homogeneous flow regime, the particle Reynolds number value (Rep) is
a. 10−6 < Rep < 0.1
b. 0.1 < Rep < 2
c. Rep > 2
d. None of the above

Answer:
b. 0.1 < Rep < 2

42
 Q14
As increasing liquid velocity beyond the minimum fluidization velocity (umf), the regime becomes
a. Conventional fluidization regime
b. Circulating fluidization regime
c. Hydraulic conveying regime
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. Conventional fluidization regime

43
 Q15
A discrete bubble flow pattern predominates at
a. Low gas and high liquid velocities
b. Low gas and low liquid velocities
c. High gas and low liquid velocities
d. None of the above

Answer:
b. Low gas and low liquid velocities

44
 Q16
The dispersed bubble flow pattern characterizes by the small bubbles
a. With the less uniform size distribution than the discrete bubble flow pattern
b. With a more uniform size distribution than a discrete bubble flow pattern
c. With equivalent uniform size distribution than the discrete bubble flow pattern
d. None of the above

Answer:
b. With a more uniform size distribution than a discrete bubble flow pattern

45
 Q17
For the homogeneous flow regime, the particle Reynolds number value (Rep) is
a. 10−6 < Rep < 0.1
b. 0.1 < Rep < 2
c. Rep > 2
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. 10−6 < Rep < 0.1

46
 Q18
In the case of the slug flow
a. As the gas velocity is increased further, bubbles become larger and more elongated
b. At low liquid velocity, the onset of slug flow is almost independent of liquid velocity
c. At high liquid velocities, the transition from dispersed bubble flow to slug flow is a function of
liquid velocity
d. All the above

Answer:
d. All the above

47
 Q19
The elongated, distorted Taylor bubbles are formed in the
a. Coalesced bubble flow
b. Slug flow
c. Churn flow
d. All the above

Answer:
c. Churn flow

48
 Last week problem Q14
Calculate terminal velocity for the sharp irregular sand particles. (Density of gas = 1.2 × 10-3 g cm-3,
Viscosity = 1.8 × 10-4 g cm-1 s-1, dp* = 160 µm, Density of solid = 2.60 g cm-3, ɸs = 0.67)
a. 88 cm s-1
b. 66 cm s-1
c. 77 cm s-1
d. 55 cm s-1

Answer:
a. 88 cm s-1

49
 Q14 Answer
a. Given:
a. Density of gas = 1.2 kg m-3, Viscosity = 1.8 × 10-5 kg m-1 s-1, dp* = 160 µm, Density of solid = 2.60 kg/m3,
b. ɸs = 0.67)

b. To find: ut
c. Formula:
1/3 1/3
𝜌𝑔 𝜌𝑠 −𝜌𝑔 𝑔 18 2.335−1.744Φ𝑠 −1 ρ2𝑔
a. 𝑑𝑝∗ = 𝑑𝑝 ; 𝑢𝑡∗ = 2 + ∗ 0.5
0.5 < Φ𝑠 < 1; 𝑢∗ =𝑢
μ2 ∗
𝑑𝑝 𝑑𝑝 μ 𝜌𝑠 −𝜌𝑔 𝑔

d. Solution
a. dp* = 160*10-6 [(1.2 * (2600 -1.2) *9.81/(1.82*10-10)]1/3 = 7.28
b. ut* = [18/7.282 +(2.335-1.744*0.67)/7.280.5]-1 = 1.2953
c. u* = 1.2953 /[1.22/(1.8*10-5 (2600-1.2)*9.81)]1/3
= 88.47 cm/s = 88 cm/s

50
Thank You!

51