Fluidization Engineering

(noc24-ch57)
Problem Solving Session-3 Date: 10.08.2024 (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
a. Week - 1-2: Introduction: The phenomenon of fluidization; Advantages and disadvantages of fluidized beds;
Industrial applications of fluidized beds
b. Week - 3: Characteristics of solids: Classification of solids; Flow characteristics and its outline in the different types
of fluidization.
c. 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
d. Week - 6: Gas distribution: Type of gas distributors in small and large scale industries, Design of distributor
e. Week - 7: Bubbling fluidized beds: Gas dispersion and gas interchange in bubbling beds, mixing characteristics
f. Week - 8: Entrainment and elutriation from fluidized beds
g. Week - 9: Attrition: Attrition mechanism and its analysis by model
h. 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
i. Week - 12: Heat Transfer phenomena: Heat transfer between fluidized beds and surfaces and modeling
j. 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
Introduction to Fluidization

Ref: Naz et al, 2017.

4
Fluidization regimes

Ref: Kunii and Levenspiel, 1991.

5
 Q1
Multiphase behaviour is not affected by
a. Interfacial tension force
b. Wetting characteristics of the liquid on the channel wall
c. Surface area
d. Contact angle

Answer:
c. Surface area

6
 Q2
In a fluidized bed, the flow regime of multiphase flow depends on which factor?
a. Geometric variables
b. Thermodynamic variables
c. Physical properties of the phases
d. All of these

Answer:
d. All of these

7
 Q3
The most unstable condition corresponds to the transition from bubbling to turbulent fluidization based
on changing …….
a. Top surface of the bed
b. Bundle of slugs
c. Velocity
d. Surface area of the bed

Answer:
c. Velocity

8
 Q4
In which transport phenomenon, particles impact against each other or the bed wall takes place?
a. Strand transport
b. Dilute phase transport
c. Plug transport
d. Dune transport

Answer:
b. Dilute phase transport

9
 Q5
The fluidization where the bed does not expand much beyond its volume at minimum fluidization.
a. Pneumatic conveying fluidization
b. Fast fluidization
c. Turbulent fluidization
d. Spouted fluidization

Answer:
d. Spouted fluidization

10
 Q6
At slug-flow regime, Where U = velocity of the fluid, Ums = Minimum slugging velocity; Uc = Velocity
of condition at which the standard deviation of different pressure fluctuation reaches a maximum.
a. 𝑈𝑐 ≤ 𝑈 < 𝑈𝑘
b. 𝑈𝑚𝑠 ≤ 𝑈 < 𝑈𝑐
c. 0 ≤ 𝑈 < 𝑈𝑚𝑓
d. 𝑈𝑚𝑓 ≤ 𝑈 < 𝑈𝑚𝑏

Answer:
b. 𝑈𝑚𝑠 ≤ 𝑈 < 𝑈𝑐

11
 Q7
In bubbling fluidization, minimum bubbling velocity (umb ) can be estimated from the correlation: where dp = mean
particle diameter; μg = gas viscosity; ρg = gas density
0.33
𝜌𝑔
a. 𝑢𝑚𝑏 = 33 𝑑𝑝
𝜇𝑔
0.5
𝜌𝑔
b. 𝑢𝑚𝑏 = 33 𝑑𝑝
𝜇𝑔
0.1
𝜌𝑔
c. 𝑢𝑚𝑏 = 33 𝑑𝑝
𝜇𝑔
0.1
𝜇𝑔
d. 𝑢𝑚𝑏 = 33 𝑑𝑝 𝜌𝑔

Answer:
0.1
𝜌𝑔
c. 𝑢𝑚𝑏 = 33 𝑑𝑝
𝜇𝑔

12
 Q8
During transitions for pneumatic transport fluidization, the transport line is determined by:
a. Superficial gas velocity
b. Relative velocity between gas and particle
c. Relative velocity between liquid and particle
d. Terminal velocity of a particle

Answer:
b. Relative velocity between gas and particle

13
 Q9
Umf is the minimum fluidization velocity for a bed of particles. An increase in the superficial gas
velocity from 2 Umf to 2.5 Umf results in (all velocities are smaller than the entrainment velocity of the
particles) no change in
a. Drag on particles
b. Drag on column walls
c. The bed height
d. The bed voidage

Answers:
c. The bed height

14
 Q10
Calculate the minimum bubbling velocity using Geldart & Abrahamsen (1978) correlation for group A
particles of diameter 2.5 mm. The air density is 1.2 kg/m3, and the viscosity of air is 1.8×10-5 kg/m.sec.
a. 0.55 m/s
b. 0.65 m/s
c. 0.25 m/s
d. 0.85 m/s

Answer:
c. 0.25 m/s

15
 Q10 Answer
a. Given:
Group A particles, diameter = 2.5 mm
Air density = 1.2 kg/m3 Viscosity = 1.8*10-5 kg/ms

b. To find:
Minimum bubbling velocity

c. Formula:
Geldart & Abrahamsen (1978) correlation

d. Solution:
Geldart & Abrahamsen (1978) correlation for Group A particles
umb = 33 dp (ρg / μg)0.1
umb = 33 * 2.5*10-3 *(1.2/(1.8*10-5))0.1
umb = 0.2505 m/s

16
 Q11
The Reynolds number of particle for Stokes law region is:
a. Rep ≤ 0.1
b. Rep ≥ 1.0
c. Rep = 1.0
d. Rep < 0.5

Answer:
a. Rep ≤ 0.1

18
 Q12
Calculate single particle settling velocity according to Weber correlation (1974) when the transport
condition is well satisfied where grain size at 50 % passing sieve is 2.3 mm with a drag coefficient of
0.44. The density of particle and liquid is given by 1500 & 1000 kg/m3, respectively.
a. 0.1546 m/s
b. 0.1946 m/s
c. 0.1846 m/s
d. 0.1246 m/s

Answer:
c. 0.1846 m/s

18
 Q12 Answer
a. Given:
dp,50 = 2.3 mm; Density of particle =1500 kg/m3 ; Density of water =1000 kg/m3; Cd = 0.44

b. To find:
Single particle settling velocity

c. Formula:
Weber (1974) correlation

d. Solution:
Weber (1974) correlation
1/2
4 𝑑𝑝50 𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌𝑙 𝑔
𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑡 = 3𝐶𝐷 𝜌𝑙
uset = [4*2.3*10-3*(1500-1000)*9.81/(3*0.44*1000)]0.5
= 0.1849 m/s

19
 Q13
Conveying of fine spherical particles as a suspension takes place in colloidial dispersive flow regime at
where Res – Reynolds number of solids:
a. Res < 10-5
b. Res > 10-5
c. Res < 10-6
d. Res > 10-6

Answer:
c. Res < 10-6

20
 Q14
Air (density = 1.22 kg/m3, dynamic viscosity = 1.9 × 10–5 Pa.s) is flowing in a fixed bed of diameter 0.5
m and height 2.5 m. The bed is packed with spherical particles of diameter 10 mm. The void fraction is
0.38. The air mass flow rate is 0.5 kg/s. Calculate the pressure drop across the bed of particles.
a. 0.276 × 105 Pa
b. 0.286 × 105 Pa
c. 0.294 × 105 Pa
d. 0.264 × 105 Pa

Answer:
d. 0.264 × 105 Pa

21
 Q14 Answer
a. Given:
a. Air (Density = 1.22 kg/m3; Viscosity = 1.9*10-5 kg/ms, Mass flow rate = 0.5 kg/s)
b. Particle diameter = 10 mm; Sphericity =1;
c. Bed diameter = 0.5 m; Height = 2.5 m; Void fraction = 0.38;
b. To find:
a. Pressure drop across the bed
c. Formula:
𝑢 𝐿 1−𝜀 2 𝜌𝑢02 𝐿𝑏 1−𝜀
a. Erguns equation: ∆𝑃 = 150 𝜇 0 2𝑏 2 3 + 1.75
𝜑𝑠 𝐷𝑝 𝜀 𝜑𝑠 𝐷𝑝 𝜀3

d. Solution:
a. uo = Mass flow rate /(Density * CSA bed) = 0.5/(1.22*3.14*0.252)= 2.088 m/s
b. Pressure drop = (150 * 1.9*10-5 *2.088*2.5*(1-0.38)2/((10*10-3)2 *0.383) …
…+ (1.75*1.2*2.0882*2.5*(1-0.38)/(10*10-3* 0.383)
= 26904.1 Pa = 0.26904 *105 Pa

22
 Q15
For solid-liquid homogeneous flow regime, void faction at minimum fluidization for spherical particles
is:
a. 0.4-0.45
b. 0.5-0.58
c. 0.3-0.32
d. 0.15-0.25

Answer:
a. 0.4-0.45

23
 Q16
Match the following Res = Reynolds number of solid
(p) Homogeneous flow regime (I) 0.1 < Res < 2
(q) Pseudo-homogeneous flow regime (II) Res ≤ 0.1
(r) Heterogeneous flow regime (III) Res > 2
a. (p)- (I); (q)-(III); (r)-(II)
b. (p)- (II); (q)-(I); (r)-(III)
c. (p)- (III); (q)-(I); (r)-(II)
d. (p)- (II); (q)-(III); (r)-(I)

Answer:
b. (p)- (II); (q)-(I); (r)-(III)

24
 Q17
Which among the following fluidization regimes causes movement of solids to become more vigorous
at a higher flow rate?
a. Bubbling fluidization
b. Turbulent fluidization
c. Slugging fluidization
d. Fast fluidization

Answer:
a. Bubbling fluidization

25
 Q1
At the terminal velocity, the weight (W) of the object is
a. W = (Buoyancy force + Drag force)
b. W > (Buoyancy force + Drag force)
c. W < (Buoyancy force + Drag force)
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. W = (Buoyancy force + Drag force)

26
 Q2
When the packed bed condition diminishes, the frictional pressure drop can be estimated by using
a. Frick’s law
b. Ergun equation
c. Stokes law
d. Newton’s law

Answer:
b. Ergun equation
𝑢0 𝐿𝑏 1−𝜀 2 𝜌𝑢02 𝐿𝑏 1−𝜀
∆𝑃 = 150 𝜇 2 2 3 + 1.75
𝜑𝑠 𝐷𝑝 𝜀 𝜑𝑠 𝐷𝑝 𝜀3

27
 Q3
For spherical particles, the minimum voidage of the bed (εmf) is usually in the ranges of
a. 0.4 – 0.45
b. 0.5 – 0.55
c. 0.6 – 0.65
d. 0.7 – 0.75

Answer:
a. 0.4 – 0.45

28
 Q4
The minimum fluidization velocity is affected by the factor (s)
a. Bed diameter
b. Particle size
c. Fluid density
d. All the above

Answer:
d. All the above
𝑢0 𝐿𝑏 1−𝜀 2 𝜌𝑢02 𝐿𝑏 1−𝜀
∆𝑃 = 150 𝜇 2 2 3 + 1.75
𝜑𝑠 𝐷𝑝 𝜀 𝜑𝑠 𝐷𝑝 𝜀3

29
 Q5
Buoyancy force experienced by a submerged solid particle is equivalent to
a. Volume of fluid displaced by particle volume × fluid density × gravitational acceleration
b. Weight of fluid displaced by particle volume × fluid density × gravitational acceleration
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. Volume of fluid displaced by particle volume × fluid density × gravitational acceleration

30
 Q6
At the minimum fluidization velocity, inside a fluidized bed
a. All the particles are just suspended by the upward-flowing gas or liquid
b. The frictional force between particle and fluid counterbalances the weight of the particles
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. None of the above

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

31
 Q7
The drag coefficient (CD) in the turbulent flow regime is equivalent to 0.44, when the particle Reynolds
number (Rep) is
a. Rep > 500
b. Rep > 1000
c. Rep > 1500
d. Rep > 2000

Answer:
a. Rep > 500

32
 Q8
At the onset of fluidization, the voidage is
a. Larger than that in a packed bed
b. Smaller than that in a packed bed
c. Equivalent to that in a packed bed
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. Larger than that in a packed bed

33
 Q9
Archimedes number or Galileo number is proportional to
a. The diameter of the particles
b. The square of the diameter of the particles
c. The cube of the diameter of the particles
d. None of the above

Answer:
c. The cube of the diameter of the particles

34
 Q10
At the minimum fluidized condition, the pressure drop through any section of the bed is equal to
a. The weight of the fluid in that section
b. The weight of the particles in that section
c. The weight of the fluid and particles in that section
d. All the above

Answer:
c. The weight of the fluid and particles in that section

35
 Q11
The gas holdup (αg), can be experimentally obtained by the phase-isolation technique, where the αg can
be estimated by
a. The ratio of gas volume to the mixture volume
b. The ratio of liquid volume to the mixture volume
c. The ratio of gas volume to the liquid volume
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. The ratio of gas volume to the mixture volume

36
 Q12
The terminal velocity (ut), can be found from balancing the forces
a. Gravitational and inertial forces per unit volume of the particle
b. Gravitational, buoyancy, and drag forces per unit volume of the particle
c. Gravitational, and drag forces per unit volume of the particle
d. None of the above

Answer:
b. Gravitational, buoyancy, and drag forces per unit volume of the particle

37
 Q13
For the flow of a homogeneous mixture of gas and liquid, the superficial liquid velocity can be
calculated as
a. (Volumetric flow rate of the liquid)/(cross-sectional area of the bed)
b. (Volumetric flow rate of the liquid)/(half of the cross-sectional area of the bed)
c. (Volumetric flow rate of the liquid)/(square of the cross-sectional area of the bed)
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. (Volumetric flow rate of the liquid)/(cross-sectional area of the bed)

38
 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

39
 Q14 Answer
a. Given:
a. 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)

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

40
 Solution
a. dp* = 160*10-6 [(1.2 * (2600 -1.2) *9.81/(1.82*10-10)]1/3
b. = 7.28
c. ut* = [18/7.282 +(2.335-1.744*0.67)/7.250.5]-1
d. = 1.2938
e. u* = 1.2938 [1.22/(1.8*10-5 (2600-1.2)*9.81)]1/3
f. ut = 87.92 cm/s = 88 cm/s

41
 Q15
According to Wen and Yu (1966), a void fraction at the minimum fluidization (ɛmf) depends on
a. The density of the particles
b. The shape of the particles
c. The volume of the particles
d. None of the above

Answer:
b. The shape of the particles

42
 Q16
Drag force is acting in which direction to the relative motion of any object moving with respect to a
surrounding fluid.
a. Same direction
b. Opposite direction
c. Either (a) or (b)
d. None of the above

Answer:
b. Opposite direction

43
 Q17
When the particle Reynolds number (Rep) value is 680, the flow is
a. Stokes flow
b. Laminar flow
c. Turbulent flow
d. All the above

Answer:
c. Turbulent flow

44
 Q18
At the minimum fluidization velocity, the weight of the particle is just counterbalanced by
a. The frictional force between the particle and the fluid
b. The gravitational force is acting on the particle
c. The buoyancy force is acting on the particle
d. None of the above

Answer:
a. The frictional force between the particle and the fluid

45
 Q19
Distributor hole diameter, which can affect on the minimum fluidization velocity, categorized as the
a. Thermodynamic variable
b. Geometric variable
c. Variables as physical property
d. None of the above

Answer:
b. Geometric variable

46
 Q20
A fluidized bed is operating with air at a minimum fluidized condition with the particle of cubes 0.02 m
side. Calculate the void fraction (εmf) of the bed.
a. 0.45
b. 0.35
c. 0.25
d. 0.55

Answer:
a. 0.45

47
 Q20 Answer
a. Given:
a. Cube side =0.02 m
b. To find:
a. Void fraction
c. Formula:
3 1
a. 𝜀𝑚𝑓 = 14 𝜑
𝑠

d. Solution:
a. Volume of cube = a3 = 8*10-6 m3
b. SA of cube = 6*a2 = 6*0.02*0.02 = 2.4*10-3 m2
c. If Volume of sphere = 8*10-6 m3 = π/6 dp3 ; dp= (8*10-6*6/3.14)1/3=0.0248m
d. SA of sphere = π dp2 = 3.14 *0.02482 = 1.933*10-3 m2
e. Sphericity = 1.933*10-3 / 2.4*10-3 = 0.805
3
f. 𝜀𝑚𝑓 = 1/(14*0.81) =0.088
g. 𝜀𝑚𝑓 = 0.445 = 0.45

48
Thank You!

49