Assignment 2

Solution to Problem 1 on Fluidized Beds

Data given

Parameter Value
Particle Size (m) 350 x 10-6
Particle Density (kg m-3) 2400
Gas Density (kg m-3) 1.01
Specific heat of particles (J kg-1 K-1) 800
Specific heat of gas (J kg-1 K-1) 1050
Conductivity of particles (W m-1 K-1) 18.9
Conductivity of gas (W m-1 K-1) 0.027
Gas viscosity (kg m-1 s-1) 1.9 x 10-5
Bed voidage (-) 0.4
Bed Diameter (m) 0.1
Bed Height (m) 0.15
 Solution to Q1

1. What is the Geldart type of this particle? What are its expected flow characteristics?
Answer: From the data given the particle diameter is 350 µm and particle density is 2400 kg/m3.
From the above figure which divides area in four different regions based on the
particle properties, the said particles are of type “B”. These particles will have good
fluidization quality, vigorous bubbling, slug at high velocity, small bed expansion, good
solids mixing in bubbling
 Solution to Q2
2. What is the minimum fluidization velocity?
Answer: For whole range of Reynolds number

All properties are known, hence simply finding the value of minimum fluidization velocity

Hence Umf = 0.089 m s-1 for this case Reynolds number is

Rep,mf = 1.65 << 20
Hence recalculating Umf for low particle Reynolds number using

Umf = 0.092 m s-1

 Solution to Q3
3. What is the terminal settling velocity?
Answer: Single particle settling velocity, We assume that 0.4<Rep<500 due to quite large size of
the particle. Therefore, terminal settling velocity can be estimated by [1],
1/3
 ( ρ p -ρg ) g 
2 2
4
ut =   dp ,
 225 ρg µ 
 
u t =2.80 m s-1
Checking validity of assumption by recalculating Reynolds number

d p u t ρg
Re p,ut = ,
µ
Re p,ut =52
This shows that the assumption made is correct

[1] D. Kunii, O. Levenspiel, 1969, Fluidization Engineering, Wiley, New York

 Solution to Q3
Answer: Hindered particle settling velocity, We assume that Rep>500,
1/2
 3.1 ( ρ p -ρ g ) gdp 
urel,t =   εf ( ε ) ,
 ρ g 
where
f ( ε ) =ε 0.4 =0.693.
Hence,
urel,t =1.4 m s -1

Checking validity of assumption by recalculating Reynolds number

ρavedpurel,t
Re= =25637>500, which justify our assumption
μ eff
where
ρave =ερ f +(1-ε)ρg =1440 kg m-3
μ -5 -1 -1
μ eff = 0.4
=2.74 × 10 kg m s
ε
 Solution to Q4, 5 and 6
4. What will be the bed condition if the bed height is doubled?
5. What will be the bed condition if the velocity is twice minimum fluidization velocity
6. What is the recommended operating velocity
Answer: Before we answer the question, we need to know the bed condition with existing
condition. First we calculate Froude number, Reynolds number and bed height at
minimum fluidizing condition [2,3],

umf dpρg
Rep,mf = =1.7,
μ
2
umf
Frmf = =2.3,
dp g
Hmf =1.3d0.175
t =1.3 m
Next, we determine fluidization regime by using

 ρs -ρg   L mf 
( Frmf ) ( Rep,mf )     =12072>100
 ρg   dt 

[2] A. S. Mujumdar, 2010, Heat Transfer in Fluidized Beds- An overview. Available online at: www.serve.me.nus.edu.sg/arun
[3] J. P. Constantineau, J.R. Grace, C.J. Lim, G.G. Richards, 2007, Generalized bubbling–slugging fluidized bed reactor model, Chemical Engineering Science Vol 62 pp. 70 – 81
 Solution to Q4, 5 and 6
This implies that fluidization condition is bubbling or aggregative fluidization.

If the bed height is doubled, the bed condition will not change except that it will increase
pressure drop across the bed, for which higher pumping power is required.

Now we check slugging criteria

ums =umf +0.07 gdt
ums =0.31 m s-1
hence,
2umf <ums
This implies that if the velocity is twice of minimum fluidization velocity, the bed will be in
bubbling fluidization regime
 Solution to Q4, 5 and 6

In fluidized bed operation, velocity has to be higher than minimum fluidization velocity.

However, we do not want velocity in which the particle is flashed out from the chamber; hence,
it should not exceed hindered settling velocity.

Maximum allowable velocity = 1.4 m s-1

Minimum allowable velocity = 0.089 m s-1

As such, recommended velocity is the velocity in between both value. Moreover, to achieve
slugging condition, recommended velocity is chosen as 4 umf = 0.35 m s-1

Of course the choice of velocity can be different depending on the conditions of fluidization
one is interested in, but for our next calculations, we have used this velocity
 Solution to Q7
7. What is particle to gas heat transfer coefficient?
Answer: Single Particle to gas heat transfer coefficient can be calculated as[1],

hsdp 1/2
=2+0.6Pr1/3 (Rep )
kg

The recommended velocity (0.35 m s-1) will be used

cpgμ
Pr= =0.74,
kg
udpρg
Rep = =6.5,
μ
hence
hsdp 1/3 1/2
=2+0.6 ( 0.74 ) ( 6.5) ,
kg
hsdp
=3.38,
kg
hs =261 W m-2 K-1
[1] D. Kunii, O. Levenspiel, 1969, Fluidization Engineering, Wiley, New York
 Solution to Q7
7. What is particle to gas heat transfer coefficient?
Answer: For fluidized Bed, Particle to gas heat transfer coefficient can be calculated as[1],
for
for
The recommended velocity (0.35 m s-1) will be used
cpgμ
Prg = =0.74, While using
kg
udpρg for
Rep = =6.5,
μ hsdp 1.3 hs dp
=0.03 ( 6.5) or =0.34,
hence kg kg
hsdp 1/3 1.4 hs =26.37 W m-2 K-1
=0.0282 ( 0.74 ) ( 6.5) ,
kg It can be seen that the particle-gas heat transfer
coefficient for fluidized bed is much lower than for
hsdp single particle – gas heat transfer coefficient.
=0.351,
kg At higher particle Reynolds number, however, heat
transfer coefficient in fluidized bed increases, mainly
hs =27.06 W m-2 K-1 for particles of larger diameter
[1] D. Kunii, O. Levenspiel, 1969, Fluidization Engineering, Wiley, New York
 Solution to Q8
8. What if operating velocity is one half of the minimum fluidizing velocity? Estimate the heat
transfer coefficient for this condition
Answer: At this condition the bed will be in a fixed bed regime,

udpρg
Rep = =0.83,
μ
hence
hsdp 1/3 0.6
=2+1.1 ( 0.74 ) ( 0.83 ) ,
kg
hsdp
=2.89,
kg
hs =222.9 W m-2 K-1
 Solution to Q9
9. Estimate the heat transfer coefficient for operating velocity of the fluidized bed which is 6
times the minimum fluidizing velocity. What will be the fluidized bed condition in this case?
Answer: the bed condition is slugging fluidization and the heat transfer coefficient is,

hsdp 1.4

kg
=0.0282 Pr 1/3
(Re )
p

udpρg
Rep = =9.9,
μ
hence
hsdp 1/3 1.4
=0.0282 ( 0.74 ) ( 9.9 ) ,
kg
hsdp
=0.63,
kg
hs =48.78 W m-2 K-1
 Solution to Q10
10. Estimate heat transfer coefficient if a vertical tube of 5cm diameter is immersed in the bed.
Answer: When a vertical tube is immersed in the bed, the heat transfer coefficient is[2],
0.43 0.8 0.66
hc d p −4

0.23 C pg ρ g
  C ps   ρs 
= 3.51 × 10 CR (1 − ε )Re p       ,
 k
kg  g   C pg   ρg 
2
 r   r 
CR =1.07+3.04   -3.29   , where Rb =0.5 dt
 Rb   Rb 
for 10-2 <Rep <102
udpρg
Rep = =6.5, so the correlation is applicable
μ
hence
Considering the tube is located at centre of the bed CR =1.07,
hc d p
= 3.51 × 10-4 × 1.07 × (1 - 0.4 ) × 6.50.23 × 39277.80.43 × 0.760.8 × 2376.240.66 ,
kg
Of course one can make use of different correlations
hcdp and arrive at different heat transfer coefficients
=4.45, hs =343 W m-2 K-1
kg although the deviation will not be much
[2] A. S. Mujumdar, 2010, Heat Transfer in Fluidized Beds- An overview. Available online at: www.serve.me.nus.edu.sg/arun