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Dr. B.

Sujan Kumar
Fluidization
Fundamentals
• When a fluid is passed upwards through a bed of
particles the pressure loss in the fluid due to frictional
resistance increases with increasing fluid flow
• A point is reached when the upward drag force exerted
by the fluid on the particles is equal to the apparent
weight of particles in the bed
• At this point the particles are lifted by the fluid, the
separation of the particles increases and the bed
becomes fluidized
• The force balance across the fluidized bed dictates that
the fluid pressure loss across the bed of particles is
equal to the apparent weight of the particles per unit
area of the bed
• For a bed of particles of density rp, fluidized by a fluid of
density rf to form a bed of depth H and voidage e in a
vessel of cross-sectional area A

• Plot of fluid pressure loss across the bed vs superficial


fluid velocity through the bed:
• OA is the packed bed region
• Solid particles do not move relative to one another
and their separation is constant
• Pressure loss vs fluid velocity relationship is
described by the Carman-Kozeny equation and the
Ergun equation
• BC is the fluidized bed region
• At point A, pressure loss rises above the value
predicted
• This rise is more marked in small vessels and in
powders which have been compacted to some
extent before the test
• Associated with the extra force required to
overcome wall friction and adhesive forces between
bed and distributor
• Superficial fluid velocity at which the packed bed becomes a
fluidized bed is known as the minimum fluidization velocity,
Umf
• Sometimes referred to as the velocity at incipient fluidization
• Umf increases with particle size and particle density and is
affected by fluid properties
• To derive expression for Umf, equate expression for pressure
loss in a fluidized bed with pressure loss across a packed bed
• Applying the Ergun equation,
• Where Ar is the dimensionless number known as the
Archimedes number

• And Remf is the Reynolds number at incipient fluidization

• In order to obtain a value of Umf, we need to know the


voidage of the bed at incipient fluidization, e = emf
• A typical value of emf is 0.4

• Wen and Yu (1966) produced an empirical correlation for


Umf

• This correlation is valid for spheres in the range 0.01 <


Remf < 1000 and is often expressed in the form:

• For gas fluidization, the Wen and Yu correlation is often


taken as most suitable for particles larger than 100 mm
• The correlation of Baeyens and Geldart (1974) is best for
particles less than 100 mm
Relevant Powder and Particle Properties
• The correct density for use in fluidization equations is the
particle density
• Defined as the mass of a particle divided by its
hydrodynamic volume
• Volume ‘seen’ by the fluid in its fluid dynamic interaction
with the particle
• Includes the volume of all open and closed pores

• Bed density is also used in connection with fluidized


beds
• Another density often used is the bulk density, defined in
a similar way to fluid bed density

• The most appropriate particle size to use in equations


relating to fluid-particle interactions is a hydrodynamic
diameter
• For use in fluidization applications, starting from a sieve
analysis the mean size of the powder is often calculated
from

• Where xi is the arithmetic mean of adjacent sieves


between which a mass fraction mi is collected
Bubbling and Non-bubbling Fluidization
• Beyond the minimum fluidization velocity bubbles or
particle-free voids may appear in the fluidized bed

• At superficial velocities above the minimum fluidization


velocity, fluidization may in general be either bubbling or
non-bubbling
• Some combinations of fluid and particles give rise to only
bubbling fluidization and some combinations give only
non-bubbling fluidization
• Most liquid fluidized systems do not give rise to bubbling

• Gas fluidized systems give either only bubbling


fluidization or non-bubbling fluidization beginning at Umf,
followed by bubbling fluidization as fluidizing velocity
increases
• Non-bubbling fluidization is also known as particulate or
homogeneous fluidization
• Bubbling fluidization is often referred to as aggregative
or heterogeneous fluidization
Classification of Powders
• Geldart (1973) classified powders
into four groups according to their
fluidization properties at ambient
conditions

The Geldart classification of powders


is now used widely in all fields of
powder technology
• Group A – powders which when
fluidized by air at ambient
conditions give a region of non-
bubbling fluidization beginning at
Umf, followed by bubbling
fluidization as fluidizing velocity
increases
• Group B – powders which under
these conditions give only bubbling
fluidization
• Group C – powders which are very
fine, cohesive and are incapable of
fluidization
• Group D – large particles
distinguished by their ability to
produce deep spouting beds

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