Fluidization Experiment Report

Introduction:
When a packed bed of particles is subjected to a sufficient high upward flow of fluid (gas or
liquid) the weight of the particles is supported by the drag force exerted by the fluid on the
particles and the particles become freely suspended or fluidized. The behaviour of fluidized
suspension is similar in many aspects to that of a pure liquid. Mass transfer and heat
transfer between particles and submerged objects (e.g., heat exchanger tubes) is greatly
enhanced in fluidized beds. In addition, rapid particle mixing allows uniformity in the bed.
As a result, fluidized beds are widely used for conducting gas-solid reactions (coal
combustion), gas-solid catalytic reactions (catalytic cracking of petroleum), etc. Several
applications also utilize liquid fluidized beds (bioreactors).

Objective:
- To analyze the behavior of a fluidized bed under varying fluid flow rates.
- To experimentally determine the minimum fluidization velocity for the given bed of
particles.
- To qualitatively observe the behavior of a gas fluidized bed with increasing gas velocity
using a 2-D bed.

Procedure:
1. Record the weight and average diameter of the glass beads.
2. Start with a low gas flow rate into the bed, and record the flow rate, gas pressure at the
bottom, and bed height.
3. Gradually increase the gas flow and, each time, note the flow rate, pressure, and bed
height.
4. Continue increasing the flow until you reach the maximum flow rate. Watch the top and
sides of the bed, and note when the particles start vibrating (this indicates fluidization).
5. Now, reverse the process: start with a high gas flow rate and slowly decrease it in steps.
Record the flow rate when the bed just stops being fluidized (defluidizes).

Table:

Conclusion:
The experiment showcased how a fluidized bed system behaves as gas flow rates change,
revealing key fluidization parameters. By increasing the flow rate, we identified the
minimum fluidization velocity—the point where glass bead particles shift from a fixed to a
fluid-like state. Essential measurements like flow rate, bottom bed pressure, and bed height
were recorded, showing bed expansion and a relatively constant pressure drop at
fluidization. By reversing the flow rate, we determined fluidization and defluidization
velocities, offering a complete understanding of fluidized bed dynamics for optimizing
industrial applications requiring efficient heat and mass transfer, such as chemical reactors
and bioreactors.

Updated Table with Superficial Velocity:

Airflow Min Max Bead Bead Pressur Pressur Superfi Observ

Rate Pressur Pressur Height Height e Drop e Drop cial ation
(L/min e (Pa) e (Pa) (mm) (m) (mmH2 (Pa) Velocit
) O) y (m/s)
2 280 295 90 0.09 15 147 0.0066 No
7 change
3 275 298 90 0.09 23 225 0.010 No
change
4 268 308 90 0.09 40 392 0.0133 No
3 change
5 264 312 90 0.09 48 471 0.0166 No
7 change
6 264 309 90 0.09 45 441 0.020 No
change
7 255 318 90 0.09 63 618 0.0233 No
3 change
8 260 322 90 0.09 62 608 0.0266 The
7 glass
bead
starts
vibrati
ng
9 245 328 90 0.09 83 814 0.030 Increas
e the
vibrati
ng rate
10 238 333 90 0.09 95 931 0.0333 Fast
3 vibratio
n
11 232 340 90 0.09 108 1059 0.0366 Fast
7 vibratio
n
12 227 345 90 0.09 118 1157 0.040 Fast
vibratio
n
13 230 342 93 0.093 112 1098 0.0433 Very
3 fast
vibratio
n
14 229 344 95 0.095 115 1128 0.0466 Very
7 fast
vibratio
n
15 229 344 95 0.095 115 1128 0.050 Bubble
 starts
rising
up
16 230 343 97 0.097 113 1108 0.0533 Many
3 bubble
s rising
up
Defluid
ization
15 229 344 95 0.095 115 1128 0.050 No
change
14 229 342 95 0.095 113 1108 0.0466 No
7 change
13 234 339 94 0.094 105 1029 0.0433 No
3 change
12 236 336 94 0.094 100 981 0.040 No
change
11 242 330 94 0.094 88 863 0.0366 No
7 change
10 247 325 93 0.093 78 765 0.0333 No
3 change
9 253 319 93 0.093 66 647 0.030 Decrea
sing in
vibratio
n
8 257 315 92 0.092 58 569 0.0266 Small
7 vibratio
n rate
7 260 312 92 0.092 52 510 0.0233 Small
3 vibratio
n rate
6 264 309 92 0.092 45 441 0.020 Small
vibratio
n rate
5 268 304 92 0.092 36 353 0.0166 Small
7 vibratio
n rate
4 272 300 92 0.092 28 275 0.0133 No
3 vibratio
n
3 275 298 91 0.091 23 225 0.010 No
vibratio
n
2 277 294 91 0.091 17 167 0.0066 No
7 vibratio
n
Generated Graphs: