LAB REPORT SETK 4761 SEPARATION PROCESS

LABORATORY II 2023/2024 – 01

EXPERIMENT 2
TITLE FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR

LAB INSTRUCTOR DR. MUHAMMAD ARIF BIN AB AZIZ

SECTION 04

GROUP NO. 04

GROUP MEMBERS No. Name Matric No.

1. ALAM SURYA PUTRAWAN A20ET5001

2. JEHAD ZIAD WAKIL A20ET4013

3. MOHAMAD ASYRAAF BIN A20ET0128

MOHAMAD ZULKIFLI

4. NUR UMAIRA BINTI AMRAN A20ET0214

5.

DATE OF 16/11/2023
EXPERIMENT

DATE OF 22/11/2023
SUBMISSION
 ABSTRACT

A system that suspends and fluidizes a solid material with an upward flow of gas or
liquid is known as a fluidized bed. The fluidization process produces a bed of particles with
high heat and mass transfer rates, adequate mixing, and minimal pressure loss. As a result of
its good contact between gas and solid materials and excellent heat and mass transfer, this
technology is adaptable and may be applied in various operating circumstances. By measuring
the pressure drop and bed expansion via a stationary fluidized bed, the experiment aims to
understand the behaviour of fluidization. This is accomplished by analysing the fundamentals
of fluidized bed grain fluidization, as well as by examining the features of the fluidized bed
and the airflow generated by the air compressor. Air flow rate, bed thickness, pressure drop,
and observations on bed thickness are among the data obtained throughout the experiment. The
optimum point, also known as the point of fluidization and void fraction, is determined at the
conclusion of the experiment using the data obtained.
Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Background of Experiment ......................................................................................... 4
1.2 Experimental Objectives ............................................................................................. 4
1.3 Experimental Scope..................................................................................................... 4
2.0 THEORY/WORKING PRINCIPLE ............................................................................... 5
3.0 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Apparatus and Materials.............................................................................................. 8
3.2 Experimental Procedure .............................................................................................. 8
4.0 SAFETY PROCEDURE ................................................................................................. 8
5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ..................................................................................... 9
5.1 Experimental Results................................................................................................... 9
5.2 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 11
6.0 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 12
7.0 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 12
8.0 APPENDICES .............................................................................................................. 13
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Experiment
The upward flow of fluid through a bed of particles is a situation encountered
both in nature, as with the natural movement of ground water, crude petroleum or
natural gas, through porous media, and in industrial operations such as backwashing
filters, ion-exchange processes, extraction of soluble components from raw materials
and for certain types of chemical reactors. It is well known that if the particles are
loosely packed and the pressure drop due to the flow through the bed is equivalent to
the weight of the bed, the phenomenon of fluidisation occurs. The fluidised state that
occurs naturally is called ‘quicksand’ and industrially, use is made of the high rate of
solids mixing that accompanies fluidisation for various operations such as drying,
coating, heat transfer and chemical reaction.

This equipment is designed to allow the study of the characteristics of flow

through both fixed and fluidised bed of solid particles. Although most fixed and
fluidised bed situations encountered by practicing engineers are three dimensional, in
this experiment, students can readily observe the important phenomenon of bubbling
that occurs in gas-solid systems when the gas velocity is in the excess of that required
for fluidisation. The transparent walls allow studies to be made of bubble behaviour in
the gas-solid system.

1.2 Experimental Objectives

The objective of the experiment is to study the behaviour of fluidization.

1.3 Experimental Scope

In this experiment, the principles of fluidization of fine sand are studied by using
fine sand. The principles include the thickness of the fluidized bed, the behaviour of
the fluidized bed, and the pressure drop when there is a different air flow rate supplied
to the system within two minutes gap.
2.0 THEORY/WORKING PRINCIPLE
Since the fully suspended particles behave like a dense fluid, the terms fluidization and
fluidized bed are used to describe the situation. A fluidized bed, which is widely used in
many modern technologies for the effective implementation of various physical and chemical
processes, can also be defined as a state of a two-phase mixture of particulate solid material
and fluid. It happens when a liquid or gas is passed through a bed of solid particles at a very
slow speed; the particles stay in place, and the pressure drop is determined by the Ergun
equation. Fluidized beds are employed in a variety of processes, including mass or heat
transfer, fluidized bed combustion, fluidized bed reactors, and interface modification
processes like coating solid objects.

Particulate materials make up most of this bed. Particulate matter consists of mechanical
blends comprising numerous solid particles. Many long-term natural processes, such as
heating, cooling, thermal dilatation, colliding, crushing, and chopping up, atmospheric
changes, river erosion, and erosion brought on by sea waves, are the sources of natural
particulate matter. Particulate solid material is also produced by several technological
processes, including milling, chopping, spraying, drying, evaporating, and crystallising.
Fruits and seeds are examples of organic (plant)-based particulate matter. The beginning of
fluidization, as well as the features, behaviour, and primary parameters of fluidized beds, are
all influenced by the geometrical, physical, and aerodynamical properties of particulate solid
materials. The primary characteristics of a solid are:

• Particle density
• Skeletal (true) density
• Bulk density
• Particle shape
• Mean equivalent particle diameter
• Particle size distribution

This bed is made up of a fluid-solid mixture with fluid-like characteristics. Because of this,
the bed's upper surface is essentially horizontal, which is comparable to hydrostatic
behaviour. The bed can be viewed as a single bulk density representing an inhomogeneous
mixture of solid and fluid. an object that is denser than the bed will sink; an object that is less
dense than the bed will float. This phenomenon takes into account the bed's fluid behaviour,
which is consistent with Archimedes' principle. Objects with different densities relative to the
bed can be made to sink or float by varying either the fluid or solid fraction, since the
"density" of the bed—actually, the solid volume fraction of the suspension—can be changed
by varying the fluid fraction.

Compared to packed beds, the contact between the solid particles and the fluidization
medium—a gas or a liquid—is significantly increased in fluidized beds. Good heat transfer
between the bed and its container as well as good thermal transport within the system are
made possible by this behaviour in fluidized combustion beds.

In the same way that effective heat transfer allows for thermal uniformity comparable to that
of a well-mixed gas, the bed can have a sizable heat capacity while still preserving an even
temperature field. The basic fluidized bed is shown in the figure below.

Figure1: Simple Fluidized Bed

High levels of contact between gases and solids can be promoted through the technical
process of fluidized beds. One can make use of a distinctive collection of fundamental
attributes that are essential to contemporary chemical and process engineering. These
attributes consist of:

• exceptionally high fluid-solid surface area contacts per unit bed volume
• high ratios of velocities between the distributed solid phase and the fluid.
• high degrees of particulate phase intermixing.
• frequent collisions between particles and walls.
One of the most well-known contacting techniques in the processing sector, such as in oil
refinery facilities, is the fluidized bed. Its main benefits include continuous processing,
suitability for both small and large-scale operations, and well-mixed particles that result in
low temperature gradients.

The minimum fluidization velocity (Vmf), or flow rate at which the particles can become
fluidized, must be ascertained. The fluidization process requires the minimum superficial
fluid velocity. It can be achieved by allowing for the buoyant force of the displaced fluid and
setting the pressure drop across the bed to equal the weight of the bed per unit area of cross
section:

At incipient fluidization, ε is the minimum void fraction (εm) of the bed.

The minimum fluidization velocity can be found by solving the Erguns equation for pressure
drop in packed beds, which can be applied to the point of incipient fluidization. The Ergun
formula is:

In the chemical process industries, this application is widely used, especially for cracking
high-molecular-weight petroleum fractions. These beds have excellent mixing and heat
transfer properties by nature. These are devices that create a lot of surface area contact
between a solid and a gas or liquid, or between a liquid and a liquid, in order to facilitate
chemical reactions and/or rapid mass and heat transfer.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Apparatus and Materials
vacuum pump, Fluid column, wheat grains, and air (atmosphere)

3.2 Experimental Procedure

1. Wheat grains were placed in an experimental air column at an altitude regarded as the
reference zero.
2. The control valve has been closed and the manometer reading is guaranteed to be zero.
3. air compressor triggered and timed the control valve to maintain a low air flow rate
throughout. The rate of air flow is noted.
4. Manometer readings, a thick layer of sand to read, and changes in sand layer observations
were noted.
5. Step 4 is repeated while observing and recording any changes as the air flow rate is
increased.
6. The column's inner diameter was measured.

4.0 SAFETY PROCEDURE

1. Make sure PPE is worn properly.
2. Keep a safe distance from the equipment.
3. Make sure to keep an eye on the flow rate when conducting the experiment.
4. Make sure the reactor is properly intact with the other components to prevent any
accidents when doing the experiment.
5. After finishing the experiment, flow rate speed must be decreased to its minimum
flow to prevent any accidents or damage on the equipment.
5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5.1 Experimental Results

Table 5.1 Experimental Results

Time (min) Air Flow Thickness of Pressure Observation

rate (m3/hr) grains (cm) Drop (fluidized)
(mmH2O)
0 33.7 7.5 35 Stationary
2 43.1 7.5 60 Stationary
4 53.4 7.5 100 Stationary
6 85.9 7.5 122 Stationary
8 87.7 7.6 160 Slight
movement on
surface
10 89.6 7.8 197 Slight rise
12 105.6 8.3 250 Medium rise
14 127.6 12.5 282 Medium rise
16 148.3 16.5 330 High rise
18 173.5 17.5 386 Vigorous rise

Table 5.2 Log Pressure Drop vs Log Air Flowrate

Log Pressure Drop (mmH2O) Log Air Flow rate (m3/hr)

1.544 1.528
1.778 1.634
2 1.728
2.086 1.934
2.204 1.943
2.294 1.952
2.398 2.024
2.450 2.106
2.519 2.171
2.587 2.239
 2.5

Log Air Flow rate (m3/hr)

2

1.5

0.5

0
1.5 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7
Log Pressure Drop (mmH2O)

Figure 5.1 Log Air Flowrate vs Log Pressure Drop Graph

Log ∆P = 2.587
Log Q = 2.239

∆𝑃 = 𝑔(1 − 𝜀𝑚 )(𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌)𝐿

∆𝑃
(1 − 𝜀𝑚 ) =
𝑔(𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌)𝐿
∆𝑃
𝜀𝑚 = 1 −
𝑔(𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌)𝐿
∆P = 160 mmHg
ρp = 790 kg/m3
L = 0.076 m
G = 9.81 m/s2
ρ = 1.1839 kg/m3 at 25℃

160
𝜀𝑚 = 1 −
9.81(790 − 1.1839)0.076
𝜀𝑚 = 0.7279
 5.2 Discussion

The behaviour of the fluidized bed of grains, as well as the thickness and pressure drop of the
bed, were examined in this experiment by adjusting the air flow rate. The fluidization data,
which included the thickness of the bed of grains and pressure drop, were collected and plotted
on a graph of log pressure drop against log air flow rate, as shown in Figure 5.1, to estimate
the bed void fraction, or εm, of the fluidized bed of grain. The fluidized bed is located at the
higher end of the curve, while the fixed bed is located at the lower end, as shown in figure 5.1.
The findings show that at lower air flow rates, there are less pressure drops and that the grain
movement seems to remain stationary. The pressure drop rises as the air flow rate rises due to
the particles' greater resistance to the air flow.

The fluidized grain bed did not move until 85.9 m3/h of air flow was achieved. Where grain
thickness is visible there has been a little change in the grains, from 87.7 m3/hr to 89.6 m3/hr.
The apparent weight of the particles in the bed was equal to the upward drag force exerted on
them, which is why this phenomenon occurred. The grains seemed to be moving very quickly
when the air flow rate increased to 148.3m3/hr and the pressure risen to 16 minutes. The
minimum fluid velocity, or the surface gas velocity at which the drag force of the upward-
traveling gas equals the weight of the particles in the bed, must be considered. Grain movement
occurs at 173.5 m3/hr and is quite robust.

Several kinds of mistakes were made throughout the experiment. There was one parallax error
among them. When measuring the height of buoyant wheat grains and the pressure differential,
parallax error occurred. The eyes' location was the cause of this. To reduce mistake, place the
eye perpendicular to the ruler when taking a reading. Next, the airflow rate button needed to
be repaired because it was not being used properly. The experiment as a whole may be impacted
by the broken button, which could alter the experimental air flow rate.
6.0 CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, it can be concluded that the fluidized bed experiment is done to study
the fluidization by determining the pressure drop and the bed expansion through a fixed
fluidized bed. Moreover, it can be concluded that data such as air flow rate, thickness of the
bed of fine sand, and pressure drop were obtained during the experiment. Moreover, it can be
concluded that the optimum point, which is at 1.934 m3 /h with its pressure drop of 2.086 cm
H2O, is obtained after the graph shows a positive linear slope. The thickness of the bed at the
optimum point is 7.5 cm and the value of void fraction is 𝜀𝑚 = 0.7279 . It can also be
concluded that the thickness of the bed increases as the air flow rate increases. During the
experiment, there are several errors that might occur and affect the result of the final data.
However, these errors can be overcome in several ways, and the recommendations can be used
in conducting the next experiment to prevent the same errors from happening.

7.0 REFERENCES
• Weimer, A.W. (1997) Fluidized Bed Reactor Processes, SpringerLink. Available at:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-009-0071-4_8 ]
• Fluidized bed reactor (no date) Fluidized Bed Reactor - an overview | ScienceDirect
Topics. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-
engineering/fluidized-bed-
reactor#:~:text=Fluidized%2Dbed%20reactors%20(FBR),to%20behave%20like%20a
%20fluid
• Ckimc (2022) Fluidized bed (FBR), Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering
Equipment. Available at: https://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu/fbr/ .
8.0 APPENDICES

Figure 8.1 Experimental Results Table