4.0 Data and Result Analysis Table 4.

1: Data Collected for Bed Fluidization Observation (fluidized bed of fine sand) Fixed bed Fixed bed Fixed bed Fixed bed Fixed bed Fixed bed Fixed bed Fixed bed Expanded bed Expanded bed Expanded bed Mobilized bed

Thickness of the bed Air flow rate, L/min of fine sand, cm 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 9.8 9.8 9.8 9.9 9.9 9.9 9.9 9.9 9.9 9.9 10 10

Pressure drop, mmH2O 0 37 61 82 108 135 157 189 218 235 253 269

Table 4.2 shows the data of pressure drop and fluid velocity. These data was used to plot graph log pressure drop versus log fluid velocity. Table 4.1: Data of pressure drop and fluid velocity

Air flowrate (L/min) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Pressure different, P (mm H2O) 37 61 82 108 135 157 189 218 235 253 269 = = = =

u (cm/s) 1.77 2.65 3.54 4.43 5.32 6.21 7.09 7.98 8.87 9.75 10.64

log P 1.5682 1.7853 1.9138 2.0334 2.1303 2.1959 2.2765 2.3385 2.3711 2.4031 2.4298

log u 0.2480 0.4232 0.5490 0.6464 0.7259 0.7931 0.8506 0.9020 0.9479 0.9890 1.0269

Diameter inside, D Cross sectional area, A

49.18 mm 49 x 10-3 m D2 / 4 1.88x10-3 m2 2 liter/min 33.33x10-5m3/sAir velocity,u air flowrate / cross sectional area 33.33x10-5 m3/s / 1.88x10-3 m2 0.01773 m / s 1.773 cm/s

Calculation of air velocity: Air flowrate = = = = = =

Graph 4.1: Graph of log

P against log u

5.0

Discussion
Fluidization layer started to form in column. This showed that when air velocity

increased, the fine sand height level also increased because fine sand started to buoy like fluid. It is also known as bubbling fluidization. During bubbling fluidization, the gas passes through the bed as voids or bubbles which contain few particles and only a small percentage of gas able to pass between the sand particles. The increasing the rate of flow air that enter column will cause the fine sand level increased. This showed that velocity value with u value exceeding 7.0 L/s was sufficient to move the fine sand. These were due to fluidized bed only occurred when gas velocity or liquid were sufficient to float solid particles that occur in layer. In this experiment, there is certain period that the thickness of the fine sand layer was remained unchanged. It is due to the small amount of airflow is not sufficient to move the fine sand weight which acted towards below. Therefore, no changes on the fine sand elevation and even will collapse. The sand bed is started to form bubbles at the surface when the air flow rate is adjusted to 7.0 L/ min. This phenomenon can be explained as it had been able to offset gravitational force and the fine sand weight.

Graph 4.1 shows the graph of log pressure drop versus log fluid velocity. From the graph, it is significantly showed that the pressure drop is directly proportional to the air flow rate. The particles motion becomes more rapids and move further apart. There was a transition point where the pressure drop becomes constant. From the graph, the fluidization point occurred when u was 1.773cm/s. Anyway, before achieving transition point or fluidization point, the pressure difference is directly proportional with air flow rate. From the graph, the fluidization point had been observed at 269 mm H2O and the fine sand particles began to float and collapse such as fluid.

5.1

Errors and Precaution There are several errors that have existed during the experiment such as: i. There is air or bubble has been trapped inside the tube and affects the reading of pressure. The tube should be checked to ensure there is no air has been trapped inside it before experiment start. ii. The values of the air flow rate will vary from time to time. So, the observer should aware with the changes of the air flow rate from time to time. iii. iv. Parallax errors when taking the reading of the sand bed height. The observers eyes should always in line with the reading of the ruler. The sand bed is not packed enough before the experiment started. The sand particles should check and knock the glasses lightly in order to make it become packed.