CHE 391A

Presssure drop studies in Fluidized bed, Packed bed and Spouted Bed
(Experiment No. 4)

Date of Experiment -
22/01/2014
Date of Report Submission -
29/01/2014

Group No. - 1 Name of TA:

Abhijeet Chandra Roy
Batch: Wednesday
1. Abhinav Bibhu
11014 Marks: ______________
2. Abhay Gupta
11006
3. Abhishek Bansal

Prof. Dr. Jayant K. Singh

Prof. Dr. R.P.Chhabra

Department of Chemical Engineering

I.I.T KANPUR
Contents:

S. Topic Page number

No.
1 Introduction 2-3

2 Objective 3

3 Theory 4-6

4 Apparatus Description 7

5 Procedure 8

6 Data, Observations and Discussion 9 22

7 Error Analysis 22-24

8 Discussion and Answers 24-26

9 Nomenclature 26 - 27

10 Precautions 27

11 Reference 28

1|PAGE
Introduction:

Fluidized Bed: In Fluidized bed,

under application of some
pressure by a fluid over some
solid in a vessel, the solid-fluid
mixture starts behaving like a
fluid. In the vessel a fluid
(liquid/gas) is passed at high
enough speed to suspend the solid
in mid-air and make it behave like
a fluid. This process is known as
fluidization. Fluidized bed can be
used as reactors, for ion
exchange, as a heat exchanger etc.
Though highly versatile they are
prone to some problems and thus
precautions are to be taken to
avoid loss. Fluidized beds
continue to be successful in chemical reaction engineering due to easy solid handling and
high heat transfer rate.

Packed Bed: Packed bed is a hollow cylinder

filled with some material. The packing can be
anything from randomly filled spherical
objects to Raschig rings or some specially
designed material. It serves as a medium for
proper contact between the two phases in
any process. They can be used as in
scrubbers, chemical reactors etc. The
packing in the bed is pre-heated using hot
gases so that feed can be pre-heated before
the process.

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Spouted Bed: They are similar to fluidized beds
but the bottom is conical in shape and the
fluidization occurs more quickly than in fluidized
bed and thus more efficient and useful then
fluidized bed. Some particles which cannot be
treated using fluidized bed are treated using
Spouted bed.

Objective:

Fluidized Bed:

To Study the fluidization characteristics of a resin bed.

Effect on void fraction on changing the Reynolds Number.

Determining the Fluidizing Efficiency.

Packed Bed:

To verify the correlation between the speed of the fluid and pressure drop per
unit length of packing.

To justify Erguns Equation

Spouted Bed:

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 To calculate the pressure drop per unit length as a function of superficial air
velocity.

Theory:

Packed bed:

Fluid passes through the continuous channels in the packed bed column. The flow can be
laminar as well as turbulent all across the bed. The resistance per unit length of bed can
be taken as the summation of:

(1) Viscous drag forces which are directly proportional fluid velocity v
And
(2) Inertial forces which are directly proportional to the fluid velocity to the power of
2. The pressure drop per unit length is given as

P 1 1 150(1 ) f V
3 1.75 f V 2
L d p dp
(1)

Where
P: pressure drop across column
f: fluid (air) density
L: packed bed height
f: viscosity (air)
: fractional void volume

Fluidized bed:

P
(1- )( s - f )g (2)
L
W
1- s (3)
s LA
For fluidization to occur the upward
force by the fluid must balance the weight of the solids in the bed. This occurs at a

4|PAGE
specific velocity depending on the dimensions and characteristics of the solids. The
buoyant weight of the solids is balanced by the total upward force due to the pressure
drop.

At the start of fluidization, the pressure drop across the bed becomes equal to the weight
of the bed per cross-sectional area. Equating we get the minimum fluidization velocity.

d 2p ( s - f )g mf3
Vmf (4)
150(1 mf ) f

Karn and Levenspiel gave some simplified expressions for min. fluidization velocity:

d 2p ( s - f )g
Vmf Re P 20 (5)
1650 f
d 2p ( s - f )g
Vmf Re P 1000 (6)
24.5 f

d pV
f
Re p (7)

Erguns Equation:
P V 1 150(1 ) f
(8)
L d p 3 dp

(GF GE )
Fluidization Efficiency (9)
GF
Where
GF: Theoretical mass velocity of fluid to produce fluidization, kg/s.m2

5|PAGE
GE: Actual mass velocity of fluid to cause initial expansion of bed, kg/s.m2

Spouted bed:

Pressure drop in spouted beds occurs because of the spout in which dilute phase transfer
occurs and another due to downward movement of the packed bed. The fluid injected
from bottom and the bed along with the fluid starts behaving like a fluid altogether. A
conical base is used to get smooth fluid motion and to avoid blockage. Pressure drop for
bed of height H is given by:

Pf L( s f )(1 ) g (10)

Munuro and Hattori gave some expressions for pressure gradient along the bed length:

dP z
3

(1 )( s f ) g 1 1 (11)
dz L

On integrating this equation for a bed of height H, it gives the spouting pressure drop by
the following equation:

Ps 0.75L( s f )(1 mf ) g (12)

The corresponding pressure drop Ps for a fully turbulent flow in annulus is given by:

Ps (9 L /14)( s f )(1 ) g (13)

The Frauds Number, is used to determine the nature of fluidization.

v2
N FR (14)
dpg

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When, NFR < 1 Particulate fluidization occurs, followed by small difference in densities

When, NFR > 1 Aggregate fluidization occurs

Apparatus and Description:

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 Pictorial Representation of the Experimental Setup
Utilities Required:
1. Constant Air Supply
2. Measuring Cylinders
3. Manometers
4. Resins
5. Rotameter

The setup had 3 cylinders. Each having its own manometer to measure the pressure drop
across the bed. All 3 are connected with metallic pipes for transfer of air. All the 3
cylinders had markings to note down the height of the bed. Rotameter is used to maintain
constant air supply.

Procedure:

Rotameter calibration:

Air is passed through the Rotameter for different duration and flow rate is noted.
Process is repeated again and again for different Rotameter readings

Packed bed

Rotameter reading is adjusted to a particular value and pressure drop is measured is

using Manometer.
The process is repeated for different values of pressure and different pressure drops
are noted.

Fluidized bed
100 gm of Resin were weighed and added to the column.
Initial height of bed is noted down.

8|PAGE
 Rotameter is set at different values and each time average height of the bed and
pressure drop is noted down.
The experiment was repeated for additional 100 gm of Resin and for another 100
gm of Resin.

Spouted bed
100 gm of Resin were weighed and added to the column.
Initial height of bed is noted down.
Rotameter is set at different values and each time average height of the bed and
pressure drop is noted down.
The experiment was repeated for additional 100 gm of Resin and then for
additional another 100 gm of Resin.

Data, Observations and Discussion:

Density of CCL4: 1.59 gm/cc

Diameter of resin particle (dp): 0.707 mm
Diameter of glass beads (dg): 5.61 mm
Outer diameter of pipe: 60 mm
Wall Thickness: 4 mm
Lower diameter of the conical section: 3.4 cm
Density of air at room temperature (f): 1.185 kg/m3
Density of resin (s): 2300 kg/m3
Density of glass beads (g): 3057.39 kg/m3
Viscosity of air at room temp (f): 1.8 x 10-5 kg/m3
Length of conic section: 15.7 cm
Inner Diameter of Pipe: 52 mm

9|PAGE
Porosity of packed bed:
30 ml of water + (30 ml of resins + void space) = 47 ml
Void space = 13 ml
Porosity () = 13/30 = 0.433

Least Counts:
Rotameter reading: 0.01
Manometer reading: 0.1 cm
Scale: 0.1 cm
Balance: 0.01gm
Rotameter Calibration:

Rotameter Calibration Data

Rotation(R1 Rotation(R2 Average Flow-rate(L/sec)

) ) Rotation
2.15 2.2 2.175 0.271875
4 3.95 3.975 0.496875
5.25 5.35 5.3 0.6625
6.6 6.5 6.55 0.81875
7.7 7.65 7.675 0.959375
9.05 9.07 9.06 1.1325
10.4 10.4 10.4 1.3
11.6 11.55 11.575 1.446875
13 13 13 1.625

Rotameter Calibration Curve

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 Flow-rate(L/sec)
1.8

1.6
f(x) = 0.13x + 0
1.4 R = 1
F
l 1.2
o
1
w
- 0.8
R
a 0.6
t
e 0.4

0.2

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Rotameter Reading

Packed Bed:
The different values for pressure drop, Reynoldss Number and Experimental as well as
Theoretical friction factor have been calculated:

Data Table for Packed Bed

ameter r Rotameter Manometer P/L(Pa/m) Flow-Rate Velocity Reynolds

Reading Reading(mm) *-1 (L/s) (m/s) Number
0.15 2 242.601552 0.01875 0.00883334 3.262373153
9
0.2 4 485.203105 0.025 0.011777786 4.349830871
8
0.25 6 727.804658 0.03125 0.01472223 5.437288589
7 3

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0.3 9 1091.70698 0.0375 0.01766667 6.524746306
8 9
0.35 15 1819.511647 0.04375 0.020611126 7.612204024
0.4 20 2426.01552 0.05 0.02355557 8.699661742
9 2
0.45 26 3153.82018 0.05625 0.02650001 9.78711946
8 9
0.5 30 3639.02329 0.0625 0.02944446 10.87457718
4 5

Plot of the friction factor v/s the Reynolds Number

Experimental Friction Factor

4000

3500 f(x) = 144.31x + 2073.02

3000 R = 0.79

2500 Experimental Friction

Factor
2000
Friction Factor Linear (Experimental
1500 Friction Factor)
1000

500

0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Reynold's Number

Pressure Drop per unit length v/s Reynolds Number

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 P/L(Pa/m)*-1
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000 P/L(Pa/m)*-1
Prssure Drop(Pa/m)
1500
1000
500
0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Reynolds Number

Spouted Bed:

Data Table for Spouted Bed

Run Height of Mass of Solid Rotameter Pressure Drop Flow-Rate

No. Packing L(mm) (in gm) Reading (CCL4) (mm) (L/s)
1 83 100 0.1 75 0.0125
2 87 100 0.2 43 0.025
3 93 100 0.3 43 0.0375
4 97 100 0.35 43 0.04375
5 105 100 0.45 43 0.05625
6 116 200 0.1 92 0.0125
7 123 200 0.2 62 0.025
8 129 200 0.3 62 0.0375
9 130 200 0.35 62 0.04375
10 138 200 0.45 62 0.05625
11 142 300 0.1 128 0.0125
12 148 300 0.25 75 0.03125
13 155 300 0.35 75 0.04375
14 160 300 0.4 75 0.05

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15 163 300 0.45 75 0.05625

Pressure Drop (Theoretical and Practical) v/s Reynolds Number (100 gm Resin)

1200

1000

800

600
Pressure Drop(Pa)
Theoretical Pressure Drop
Practical Pressure Drop
400

200

0
0 0.5 1 1.5

Reynolds Number

Pressure Drop (Theoretical and Practical) v/s Reynolds Number (200 gm Resin)

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 1400

1200

1000

800
Pressure Drop(Pa)
600 Theoretical Pressure Drop
Practical Pressure Drop
400

200

0
0 0.5 1 1.5

Reynolds Number

Pressure Drop (Theoretical and Practical) v/s Reynolds Number (300 gm Resin)

1800

1600

1400

1200

1000
Pressure Drop(Pa) 800 Theoretical Pressure Drop
600 Practical Pressure Drop

400

200

0
0 0.5 1 1.5

Reynolds Number

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Fluidized Bed:
Data Table for Fluidized Bed

Run Height of Mass of Solid Rotameter Pressure Drop Flow-Rate

No. Packing L(mm) (in gm) Reading (CCL4) (mm) (L/s)
1 1.5 100 0.1 5 0.0125 0.

2 1.5 100 0.15 7 0.01875 0.

3 1.5 100 0.3 11 0.0375 0.

4 2 100 0.35 11 0.04375 0.

5 3 100 0.45 11 0.05625 0.

6 26 200 0.15 8 0.01875 0.

7 26 200 0.25 15 0.03125 0.

8 27 200 0.3 24 0.0375 0.

9 27 200 0.35 24 0.04375 0.

10 29 200 0.45 22 0.05625 0.

11 49 300 0.15 16 0.01875 0.

12 49 300 0.25 24 0.03125 0.

13 50 300 0.3 29 0.0375 0.

14 50 300 0.35 32 0.04375 0.

15 55 300 0.45 33 0.05625 0.

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 Plot of log (P) v/s log (Re) (100 gm resins)

log(-P)
2.2

2.1

1.9 log(-P)
log(-P)

1.8

1.7

1.6
-0.6 -0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2

log(Re)

Plot of log (P) v/s log (Re) (200 gm resins)

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 log(-P)
3

2.5

1.5 log(-P)
log(-P)
1

0.5

0
-0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2

log(Re)

Plot of log (P) v/s log (Re) (300 gm resins)

log(-P)
2.65
2.6
2.55
2.5
2.45
2.4 log(-P)
log(-P)
2.35
2.3
2.25
2.2
2.15
-0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2

log(Re)

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 Plot of Height v/s Superficial Velocity (100 gm)

Height of Packing L(mm)

3.5

2.5

2
Height of Packing L(mm)
Height(mm) 1.5

0.5

0
0 0.01 0.02 0.03

Velocity(m/s)

Plot of Height v/s Superficial Velocity (200 gm)

19 | P A G E
 Height of Packing L(mm)
29.5
29
28.5
28
27.5
27 Height of Packing L(mm)
Height(mm)
26.5
26
25.5
25
24.5
0 0.01 0.02 0.03

Velocity(m/s)

Plot of Height v/s Superficial Velocity (300 gm)

Height of Packing L(mm)

56
55
54
53
52
51 Height of Packing L(mm)
Height(mm)
50
49
48
47
46
0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03

Velocity(m/s)

20 | P A G E
 Plot of Fraud Number v/s Reynolds Number (100 gm)

Frauds Number
0.12
F
r 0.1
a
u 0.08
d
0.06 Frauds Number
N
u 0.04
m
b 0.02
e
r
0
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4

Reynolds Number

Plot of Fraud Number v/s Reynolds Number (200 gm)

21 | P A G E
 Frauds Number
0.12

F 0.1
r
a
u 0.08
d
0.06 Frauds Number
N
u 0.04
m
b
e 0.02
r
0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3

Reynolds Number

Plot of Fraud Number v/s Reynolds Number (300 gm)

Frauds Number
0.12
F
r 0.1
a
u 0.08
d
0.06 Frauds Number
N
u 0.04
m
b 0.02
e
r 0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3

Reynolds Number

22 | P A G E
Given Formula is used to calculate the minimum fluidization velocity:

d p 2 ( s f ) mf 3
Vmf
150(1 mf ) f

Utilizing the given data the minimum fluidization velocity is 0.0609 m/s.
The practical results are around the same order with some fluctuations.
For Vmf = 0.0609 m/s the Fraud Number is 0.01248.
For Fraud Number =1 Re is: 71.67

Error Analysis:

Spouted Bed
Error in Error in Error in Error in P Error in P
Flow Rate Velocity Re (theoretical (experimenta
) l)
0.000125 0.00028538 0.013283 9.58019657 9.580196572
5 2
0.000125 0.00051188 0.023825 9.58019657 9.580196572
1 1 2
0.000125 0.00073837 0.034367 9.58019657 9.580196572
7 1 2
0.000125 0.00085162 0.039638 9.58019657 9.580196572
5 2 2
0.000125 0.00107812 0.050180 9.58019657 9.580196572
2 2
0.000125 0.00028538 0.013283 9.58019657 9.580196572
5 2
0.000125 0.00051188 0.023825 9.58019657 9.580196572
1 1 2

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 0.000125 0.00073837 0.034367 9.58019657 9.580196572
7 1 2
0.000125 0.00085162 0.039638 9.58019657 9.580196572
5 2 2
0.000125 0.00107812 0.050180 9.58019657 9.580196572
2 2
0.000125 0.00028538 0.013283 9.58019657 9.580196572
5 2
0.000125 0.00062512 0.029096 9.58019657 9.580196572
9 1 2
0.000125 0.00085162 0.039638 9.58019657 9.580196572
5 2 2
0.000125 0.00096487 0.044909 9.58019657 9.580196572
2 2 2
0.000125 0.00107812 0.050180 9.58019657 9.580196572
2 2

Fluidized Bed
Error in Error in Error in Error in Error in Frauds
P Flow-Rate Velocity Re Number
12.77359 0.00125 0.0008153 0.037951 0.001386057
5 85 4
12.77359 0.00125 0.0009286 0.043222 0.002367847
5 33 5
12.77359 0.00125 0.0012683 0.059035 0.006468265
5 77 5
12.77359 0.00125 0.0013816 0.064306 0.008220086
5 25 6
12.77359 0.00125 0.0016081 0.074848 0.012301253
5 21 6

24 | P A G E
 12.77359 0.00125 0.0009286 0.043222 0.002367847
5 33 5
12.77359 0.00125 0.0011551 0.053764 0.004908951
5 29 5
12.77359 0.00125 0.0012683 0.059035 0.006468265
5 77 5
12.77359 0.00125 0.0013816 0.064306 0.008220086
5 25 6
12.77359 0.00125 0.0016081 0.074848 0.012301253
5 21 6
12.77359 0.00125 0.0009286 0.043222 0.002367847
5 33 5
12.77359 0.00125 0.0011551 0.053764 0.004908951
5 29 5
12.77359 0.00125 0.0012683 0.059035 0.006468265
5 77 5
12.77359 0.00125 0.0013816 0.064306 0.008220086
5 25 6
12.77359 0.00125 0.0016081 0.074848 0.012301253
5 21 6

Packed Bed

Error in Error in Error in Error in e Error in e Error in

Pressure Drop Flow-rate Velocity experimental (theoretical) Re
123.0336447 0.00125 0.00123817 2002.947262 3.899552629 0.457289
124.7665129 0.00125 0.00130235 1383.79002 2.162053557 0.480990
126.4993812 0.00125 0.00138615 1011.000323 1.472753282 0.511941

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129.0986835 0.00125 0.00147977 834.4660677 1.091819639 0.546517
134.2972882 0.00125 0.001579 815.3358495 0.855941903 0.583164
138.6294588 0.00125 0.00168173 733.4810939 0.69796729 0.621105
143.8280635 0.00125 0.00178680 164.5109306 0.585934953 0.659910
147.2938 0.00125 0 136.46479 0 0

Discussion and Answers:

Packed Bed:
1. First decrease in e (experimental friction factor) then increase proves that firstly it
was in laminar zone than turbulent zone.
2. e (Experimental) and e (Theoretical) have huge difference between them which
concludes that Erguns equation may not fit into this system.
3. Pressure drop and Reynolds Number are almost linearly proportional.

Fluidized Bed:
1. Pressure first increases then decreases and then become constant (after fluidization
point) for each of 100gm, 200gm and 300gm of resins.
2. Porosity will increase after fluidization point.
3. Bed height is also constant but after fluidization it increases.
4. Fluidization Velocity increases with increasing mass.

Spouted Bed:
1. Porosity increases after fluidization.
2. There is huge difference between experimental and theoretical values of pressure
difference but this difference decreases as value of Re increases. This may also be
due to fluctuations in the system.

26 | P A G E
Answers to Questions:

Fluidized Bed
A1. Advantages of fluidization:
The main advantage is that mixing is uniform and there is no abnormality in the bed. The
temperature is also constant throughout.
Disadvantage of fluidization:
In case of solid gas fluidization there is uneven contact between the two.
A2. During fluidization with a liquid like water the particle move far apart and become
vigorously activated but bed density at all point is the same. This is called particulate
fluidization.
During fluidization with a gas most gas passes through the beds in form of bubble and
only small portion flows through the channels. This is aggregative fluidization.
And Frauds number is Fr= V/dp*g V= Superficial Velocity
dp =particle diameter g = acceleration due to gravity

A3. Yes it depends on the type of distributor. A good distributor creates maximum
pressure drop and is compatible to the bed.
A4. Two phase theory was given by Toomey and John stone in (1952). According to the
theory fluidizing bed composes of two phases: the bubbling phase and particulate phase.
Any excess gas during fluidization will pass as bubbles in the system and will not pass
through channels.
A5. Yes it is higher due to uniform mixing as well as high contact surface area.

Spouted Bed:
A1. Spouted bed can be used as dryers, recycling, gasification and catalytic
decomposition.
A2. In spouted bed density of particle is low and flow is upward while in moving bed it is
exactly opposite.

27 | P A G E
A3. Minimum spouting velocity: It is the fluid velocity at which spouting starts.
Maximum spouting velocity: It is the fluid velocity at which spouting stops and becomes
fluidized bed.
Maximum spouting pressure drop: Pressure drop at maximum spouting velocity.

Packed Bed:
A1. They both are inversely proportional.
A2. Maximum diameter can be diameter of the tube.
A3. Porosity will be different and different point. It will correspond to the diameter
which will be between d1 and d2.

Nomenclature:

P Pressure Drop in a Bed

L Bed Height
f Density of fluid flowing in the Column
s Density of solid packed in the column. Kg/m3
Void Fraction or Porosity
mf Void Fraction at minimum fluidization.
f Viscosity of Fluid
A Cross Section Area of Column
dp Diameter of Resin particles
Din Inner Diameter of Spouted Column
D Diameter of Column
g acceleration due to Gravity

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NFR Froudes Number
Q Volumetric Flow Rate
Rep Reynolds Number of particle.
Vo Superficial Velocity
Vmf Velocity at minimum fluidization
Ws Weight of the bed
e Friction factor

Precautionary Measures:

1. Wear Helmet at all times.

2. Readings should be taken after all fluctuations have stopped.
3. Calculations should be taken carefully.
4. Weight should be taken properly.
5. Velocity should not be too high above the min. fluidization velocity to avoid loss of

particles and avoiding damage.

6. While studying one bed valves of other beds must be closed.

References:

1. McCabe, Smith Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering 5th ed. , McGraw-Hill,

NY, Page 961-983.
2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Unit Operation Lab Experiment Manual.
3. Wikipedia article on Packed Beds, Fluidized Bed and Spouted Bed.

4. Coulson & Richardson , Chemical Engineering Vol-2 4th edition, Asian Books

Pvt. Lt, ND, 1991, Page 303-309

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5. George Granger Brown, Unit Operations,1st edition, CBS Publishers &

Distributors, ND, 1995, Page 231-233.

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