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What Is Fluidization?
An operation through which fine solids are
transformed from a static solid-like state to
a dynamic fluid like state through contact
with either a gas or a liquid.
This process occurs when a fluid (liquid or
gas) is passed up through the granular
material.
Fundamentals:
When a fluid is passed downwards through a
bed of fine particles at a low flow rate:
the fluid merely percolates through the void
spaces between the stationary particles.
Low Velocity
High Velocity
At point A actual
fluidization starts
Types of fluidization
Fluidization can be broadly classified into
particulate fluidization or bubbling fluidization.
Particulate fluidization occurs in liquids.
As the velocity of the liquid is increased past the
minimum fluidization velocity, the bed expands
uniformly, and uniform conditions prevail in the
liquid solid mixture.
In contrast, bubbling fluidization occurs in gasfluidized beds.
Here, when the bed is fluidized, large pockets of gas,
free of particles, are seen to rise through the bed.
Advantages of Fluidization
1. Smooth liquid like flow of particles allows
contionus automatically controlled operations.
2. Rapid mixing of solids leads to isothermal
conditions throughout the reactor.
3. Suiatable for high exothermic reactions.
4. H.T and M.T rates between gas & particles are high
5. H.T. Rates between bed and immersed object is
high-requires less H.T.area.
Disadvantages of Fluidization
1. For catalytic reactions: movement of porous
catalyst particles continously capture and
release the gas reactant
2. So back mixing : reduces the yield and
performance
3. For non catalytic reactions at high temp
4. Erosion of pipes & vessels from abrasion of
particles
P p f 1 Hg
2 2 3
H
d
d 3
2
H mf
1501 mf u mf
2
d
2
3
mf
2
1.751 mf f u mf
3
d mf
f g
1501 mf umf
Multiply b.s by
d
p
f
f
Ga
Ga
3
mf
d
p
f
f
Re mf
d f u mf
3
mf
f d3
3
mf
3
d mf
1501 mf d f umf
1501 mf Re mf
d
2
2
1.75 f umf
2
1.75 2f d 2u mf
3
2 mf
1.75 Re 2mf
3
mf
Re mf
0.5
mf
Minimum Fluidization
What if emf (and maybe Fs) is unknown?
Wen and Yu found for many systems
3
s mf
14
0.5
33.7
Lb ,mf
M Bed
S 1 mf p
gDP2 P
ut
18
Multiply b.s by
fd
f ut d gd 3 f P f
18 2
Ga
Re t
Ga 18 Re t
18
Stokes law is valid only for
Re<0.2 which becomes Ga<3.6
gDP P f
u d
2
t
2
f
2
1.75 g f d p f
2
2f d 2
Ga 0.33 Re t2
Re t2 1.752 Ga
u mf
Re mf
Ga 18 Re t 1 0.15 Re t0.687
Porosity increases
Bed height increases
Fluidization can be sustained until terminal velocity is reached
If the bed has a variety of particles (usually same material, but
different sizes)
calculate the terminal velocity for the smallest particle
Range of operability = R
Minimum fluidization velocity = incipient velocity (min range)
Maximum fluidization velocity = terminal velocity (max range)
Other parameters may limit the actual range further
e.g. Column may not withstand the pressure, may not be tall
enough etc
R = Vt/VOMTheoretically R can range from 8.4 to 74
Coal Gasification
Temp:9800C