EXPERIMENT NO: P03

PRESSURE DROP IN A PACKED BED AND A

FLUIDISED BED

INSTRUCTED BY
Mrs. B S CHATHUSKI
GROUP MEMBERS
RAJAPAKSHA R M T S
RAJASEKARA R W D D V
RANATHUNGA R J K K
RANWATTA K U
RASDEEN J S NAME : RANWATTA K U

RATHEES T COURSE : B.Sc. Mechanical

RATHNAYAKE E M T K B INDEX NO : 190509D

RAVINATH S GROUP : G2.3

ROSHAN W L DATE OF PER : 07/11/2022

RUPASINGHE G M A D P D 1 DATE OF SUB : 07/11/2022

 CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................... 3

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 4

OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................................................... 4

THEORY ............................................................................................................................................. 5

PROCEDURE ..................................................................................................................................... 7

OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 8

CALCULATIONS ................................................................................................................................. 9

Table 01 .......................................................................................................................................... 10

Table 02 .......................................................................................................................................... 11

DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................................... 16

Cause for the hump in the graph ......................................................................................................... 16

Applications .................................................................................................................................... 16

REFERENCE .................................................................................................................................... 17

2
ABSTRACT

This experiment is objectified around calculating the pressure drop variation in a packed bed and
fluidized bed with the fluid flowrate through the bed in order to determine the relationship
between the superficial velocity and the pressure drop and the determining the minimum fluid
velocity required for the fluidization effect to occur.

3
INTRODUCTION

Packed beds and fluidized beds are frequently used chemical engineering applications. A hollow
column filled with an appropriate packing material makes up a standard packed bed. A packed
bed is said to be fluidized when fluid moves through it at a speed that loosens the bed and causes
the particle-fluid mixture to act like a fluid. The main objectives of this experiment on pressure
drop in a packed bed and a fluidized bed are to calculate the minimum fluidization velocity
required for fluidization and to ascertain the relationship between pressure drop and superficial
velocity for a packed bed. Gravitational force and buoyancy act downward while the packed bed
is not moving. The net gravitational force is balanced when flow starts moving upward because
of the upward acting friction forces. The friction force is strong enough to lift the particles at a
fluid velocity high enough. This indicates the start of fluidization. In terms of a friction factor,
the frictional force can be stated. The movement of a fluid past a group of particles can then be
described by equations as a result of this. One such formula is the Ergun equation.

OBJECTIVES
 To determine the relationship between pressure drop and superficial velocity for a packed
bed
 To calculate the minimum fluidization velocity (vmf) required for fluidization

4
THEORY

When an upward flow is applied on a bed of particles, they begin to freely support in the
fluid and fluidize at high velocities. At lower flow rates, the bed stays fixed and it is also called a
packed bed. There are three main forces acting on the particles,
 Weight of the particle
 Buoyancy force
 Drag force

At first of the fluidization, the weight-buoyancy force is equal to the drag force.
For a fixed bed, the Ergun’s equation,

1−𝜀
∆𝑃 = 𝑠𝐿 [𝑘𝜇𝑠(1 − 𝜀)𝑣 + 𝑘 ′ 𝜌𝑓 𝑣 2 ]
𝜀3

Where,
∆P = Pressure drop

ρf = Fluid density

ρs = Density of the particles

v = Fluid velocity

μ = Viscosity of the fluid

ε = Void friction

s = Specific surface area of particles

L = bed height
150
k= 36

1,75
k′ = 6

For laminar or stream line flow,

150 (1−𝜀)2
∆𝑃 = 𝑠 2 𝐿𝜇𝑣
36 𝜀3

150 (1−𝜀)2
𝑙𝑜𝑔 ∆𝑃 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑣 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 [ 36 𝑠 2 𝐿𝜇 ]
𝜀3

5
For turbulent flow,
1.75 (1− 𝜀)
∆𝑝 = 𝑠𝐿𝜌𝑓 𝑣 2
6 𝜀3
1.75 (1− 𝜀)
log ∆𝑝 = 2log 𝑣 + log [ 𝑠𝐿𝜌𝑓 ]
6 𝜀3

Ergun’s equation could also be applied at the start of fluidization when applied for spherical
particles at minimum fluidization, the equation gets modified as follows.

(1− 𝜀𝑚𝑓 ) 𝐿 (1− 𝜀𝑚𝑓 )

Δ𝑝𝑚𝑓 = [150𝜇 . 𝑣𝑚𝑓 + 1.75𝜌𝑓 𝑣 2 𝑚𝑓 ]
𝜀 3 𝑚𝑓 𝑑 𝑑

Where,

d = Particle diameter

mf = Minimum fluidization conditions for the flow of fluid through the bed

Figure 1 – Occurrence of Fluidization

6
PROCEDURE

1. Checked all the pipe connections

2. Checked whether the appropriate orifice plate was placed on the orifice flow measuring
instrument
3. Checked all the water levels in the manometer
4. Fed the material into the packed bed/ fluidized chamber
5. Switched on the blower
6. And then measured
a. Pressure drop across the orifice plate
b. Pressure drop across the bed of material
c. Fixed bed height at packed bed experiments and varying bed height at fluidization
7. Took above readings for various air flow rates
8. Stopped the blower
9. Removed the material from the chamber
10. Start the blower again and for the same air flow rates measured the pressure drop across the
perforated bottom plate of the bed
11. Stopped the blower
12. Measured the essential dimensions of the chamber and measured the orifice diameter

7
OBSERVATIONS

8
 CALCULATIONS

(1) 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (𝐴0 )

𝑑0 = 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 7 𝑚𝑚
𝑑2 (7 × 10−3 𝑚)2
𝐴0 = 𝜋 =𝜋× = 3.848 × 10−5 𝑚2
4 4

(2) 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑑 (𝐴)

𝐴 = (116 × 114) × 10−6 𝑚2 = 1.3224 × 10−2 𝑚2

(3) 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝜌𝑠 )

 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 100 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 = 0.82𝑔

 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 100 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 = 0.2𝑐𝑚3
 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 (𝑊) = 541.2𝑔
 𝐵𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 54 𝑚𝑚
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 100 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 0.82𝑔 𝑔
 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 100 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 = = 4.1 𝑐𝑚3
0.2
(4) 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑:
 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 (𝜌𝑓 ) = 1.2 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
 𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 (𝜇𝑓 ) = 1.6 ∗ 10−5 𝑘𝑔⁄𝑚. 𝑠
 𝐶𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 (𝐶𝑑 ) = 0.62
(5) 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝑣)

𝐴0 2×𝛥𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒
𝑣 = 𝐶𝑑 × 𝐴 √
𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝜌𝑓

Sample calculation for

∆𝑃𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 = 5 𝑚𝑚

3.848×10−5 𝑚2 2×5×10−3 𝑚×103 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 ×9.81𝑚/𝑠2

𝑣 = 0.62 × 1.3224×10−2 𝑚2 × √ = 0.016 𝑚/𝑠
1.2𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

(6) ∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 = ∆𝑃𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − ∆𝑃𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦

9
Table 01

Table 1- 𝛥𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 vs 𝛥𝑃𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦

𝛥𝑃𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝛥𝑃𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦

5 2

25 6

50 10

75 16

100 22

ΔP_orifice vs 𝛥𝑃_𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦
25

y = 0.2087x + 0.5581

20
𝛥𝑃_𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦 (mm)

15

10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
𝛥𝑃_orifice (mm)

10
From the above graph;

𝑦 = 0.2087𝑥 + 0.5581

∆𝑃 empty = 0.2087 ∗ ∆𝑃 orifice + 0.5581

From Equation (6);

∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 = ∆𝑃𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − ∆𝑃𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦

∴ ∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 = ∆𝑃𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 0.2087 ∗ ∆𝑃 orifice + 0.5581

Table 02
1) For increasing

Superficial ∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 (𝑚𝑚𝐻2𝑂) ∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 (𝑁/𝑚2 )

velocity 𝐿𝑜𝑔 (∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 ) 𝐿𝑜𝑔 (𝑣)
Packed Fluidize Packed Fluidize
(𝑚⁄𝑠)
Bed Bed Bed Bed
0 0.56 5.475 0.7383 0
0.0163 3.51 34.478 1.5375 -1.7875
0.0230 14.47 141.961 2.1521 -1.6370
0.0283 21.43 210.205 2.3226 -1.5489
0.0326 24.38 239.208 2.3788 -1.4865
0.0365 27.34 268.211 2.4284 -1.4380
0.0399 34.3 336.454 2.5269 -1.3984
0.0431 37.25 365.458 2.5628 -1.3649
0.0461 40.21 394.461 2.5960 -1.3359
0.0489 39.17 384.224 2.5846 -1.3103
0.0516 40.12 393.608 2.5951 -1.2875
0.0541 41.08 402.990 2.6053 -1.2668
0.0588 38.99 382.517 2.5827 -1.2305
0.0631 38.91 381.664 2.5817 -1.1994
0.0672 38.82 380.810 2.5807 -1.1723
0.0729 39.69 389.340 2.5903 -1.1370

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 Log(ΔP) vs Log(v)
3.3

y = 2.1704x + 5.568 3.1

2.9

2.7

2.5
Log (ΔP_bed)

2.3

2.1

1.9

1.7

1.5
-1.8 -1.7 -1.6 -1.5 -1.4 -1.3 -1.2 -1.1 -1
Log (v)

Packed Bed Fluidized Bed

12
𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 = Gradient of the packed bed for increasing graph
𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 2.1704 > 1
∴ 𝐴𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡.

2) For Decreasing

Superficial ∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 (𝑚𝑚𝐻2𝑂) ∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 (𝑁/𝑚2 ) 𝐿𝑜𝑔 (∆𝑃𝑏𝑒𝑑 ) 𝐿𝑜𝑔 (𝑣)

velocity Packed Fluidize Packed Fluidize
(𝑚⁄𝑠) Bed Bed Bed Bed
0 0.56 5.475 0.7384 0
0.0163 9.51 93.338 1.9700 -1.7875
0.0231 18.47 181.201 2.2582 -1.6370
0.0283 21.43 210.205 2.3226 -1.5489
0.0326 26.38 258.828 2.4130 -1.4865
0.0342 27.97 274.353 2.4383 -1.4658
0.0516 38.12 373.988 2.5729 -1.2875
0.0610 37.95 372.281 2.5709 -1.2144
0.0692 37.78 370.574 2.5689 -1.1596
0.0729 39.69 389.340 2.5903 -1.1370
0.0799 37.51 368.013 2.5659 -1.0974
0.0848 36.38 356.923 2.5526 -1.0718

13
 Log(ΔP) vs Log(v)
3.1

y = 1.4132x + 4.5206

2.9

2.7
Log (ΔP_bed)

2.5

2.3

2.1

1.9
-1.8 -1.7 -1.6 -1.5 -1.4 -1.3 -1.2 -1.1 -1
Log (v)

Packed Bed Fluidized Bed

14
𝑚𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 = Gradient of the packed bed for increasing graph
𝑚𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 1.4132 > 1
∴ 𝐴𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡.

From the increasing graph;

log(𝑣𝑚𝑓 ) = −1.334

𝑣𝑚𝑓 = 10−1.334 = 0.046 𝑚/𝑠

15
 DISCUSSION

Cause for the hump in the graph

A hump in the ascending path can be easily identified between the transition from packed bed to
fluidize bed. This occurs due to the effect of the gravity. At first, the particles are tightly packed,
leaving no voids or spaces between them. Thus, more force or energy is required from the air
flow to raise them. However, the amount of power required will substantially decrease once they
have enough vacancies. Because the particles will settle down in a packed manner, the necessary
energy is relatively modest when compared to the decreasing flow rate. Additionally, the graph
is smoother than the growing path and only very little energy is required for the decreasing flow
rate.

Applications
The reason fluidized beds are beneficial is that the contact surface area between the solid and gas
is increased when it comes to fluidized bed, allowing for an increase in the overall heat or mass
transfer. Modern process and chemical engineering is dependent on a distinctive set of
fundamental features that can be used in a fluidized bed. This method is employed in chemical
engineering for a variety of processes, including fluid catalytic cracking and fluidized bed
combustion. The industrial application of fluidized bed is given below.
 Methanol to gasoline and olefin processes.
 Coal combustion
 Cement clinker production.
 Titanium dioxide production.
 Calcination of Al(OH)3
 Granulation drying of yeast.
 Heat exchange
 Nuclear energy (Uranium processing, nuclear fuel fabrication, reprocessing of fuel).

16
 REFERENCE

[1] Wikipedia contributors, “Fluidized bed,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 12-May-2022.
[Online]. Available:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fluidized_bed&oldid=1087519743.
[2] S. Oka, “FLUIDIZED BED,” in A-to-Z Guide to Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer, and
Fluids Engineering, Begellhouse, 2008.
[3] F. Winter and B. Schratzer, “Applications of fluidized bed technology in processes other than
combustion and gasification,” in Fluidized Bed Technologies for Near-Zero Emission
Combustion and Gasification, F. Scala, Ed. Elsevier, 2013, pp. 1005–1033.
[4] Researchgate.net. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/ndustrial-
Applications-of-Fluidized-Beds_tbl1_235340742. [Accessed: 07-Nov-2022].
[5] N. C. Shilton and K. Niranjan, “Food Structure Food Structure,” Usu.edu. [Online]. Available:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1315&context=foodmicrostructure.
[Accessed: 07-Nov-2022].

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