FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:

TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
REVISION NO:
TRANSFERS

EXPERIMENT: FLUIDIZATION EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AND FLUID BED HEAT
TRANSFER AMENDMENT
DATE:
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

HEAT AND MASS TRANSFERS LABORATORY

LABORATORY INSTRUCTION SHEETS

COURSE CODE BNQ 20204

EXPERIMENT NO. EXPERIMENT 5

EXPERIMENT TITLE FLUIDIZATION AND FLUID BED HEAT TRANSFER

DATE
GROUP NO.
LECTURER/INSTRUCTOR/ 1)
TUTOR 2)
DATE OF REPORT
SUBMISSION
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION/DISCIPLINE: /5%
INTRODUCTION: /5%
PROCEDURE: /5%
RESULTS& CALCULATIONS /15%
ANALYSIS /15%
DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS
FOR LABORATORY DISCUSSIONS: /20%
REPORT: ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS /15%
CONCLUSION /10%
SUGGESTIONS& RECOMENDATIONS /5%
REFERENCES: /5%
TOTAL: /100%

EXAMINER COMMENTS: RECEIVED DATE AND STAMP:

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EXPERIMENT: FLUIDIZATION EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AND FLUID BED HEAT
TRANSFER AMENDMENT

KOD ETIKA PELAJAR DATE:

(KEP)
JABATAN TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA

FAKULTI TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN

Saya dengan ini mengaku bahawa saya telah menyediakan laporan ini dengan daya usaha

saya sendiri. Saya juga mengaku tidak menerima atau memberi sebarang bantuan dalam

menyediakan laporan ini dan membuat ikrar ini dengan kepercayaan bahawa apa-apa yang

tersebut di dalamnya adalah benar.

Ketua Nama:

Kumpulan No. Matriks:

(Tandatangan)

Ahli 1 Nama:

No. Matriks:

(Tandatangan)

Ahli 2 Nama:

No. Matriks:

(Tandatangan)

Ahli 3 Nama:

No. Matriks:

(Tandatangan)

Ahli 4 Nama:

No. Matriks:

(Tandatangan)
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TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
REVISION NO:
TRANSFERS

EXPERIMENT: FLUIDIZATION EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AND FLUID BED HEAT
TRANSFER AMENDMENT
DATE:

1.0 OBJECTIVE
To study the fluidization and fluid bed heat transfer unit

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Construct the model of conduction, convection, radiation, diffusion and mass convection
effectively.

3.0 INTRODUCTION / THEORY

When a fluid flows through a bed of particles contained within a tubing it will exert a drag force
upon them and develop a pressure drop across the bed which increases with increase in its
superficial velocity (the superficial velocity is that based on flow through the empty tube and is
used in fluidization experiments unless specifically stated). If the bed is unrestrained and the fluid
flows upwards through it, the condition will be reached where, with increasing fluid velocity, the
drag force will cause the bed to expand and so offer less resistance to the fluid flow until that force
is sufficient to support the weight of the particles in the bed. The bed then becomes fluidized and
the fluid/solid system shows fluid-like properties and the bed can be made to flow from one vessel
to another. The pressure drop across the bed ∆p, then remains constant with further increase in the
fluid velocity and equal to the effective weight of the bed per unit area.

∆𝑝 = 𝑀 / 𝜌𝑝 𝑠𝑏 (𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌𝑓) 𝑔 (1)

Where mass M of particles of density ρp has been charged into a bed of cross-sectional area Sb
fluidized by a fluid of density ρf and g is the gravitational acceleration.
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3.1 Merits and Demerits of the Fluidisation Techniques

The advantages of the technique of fluidization are:

1. Very high exposed surface area between particles and fluid, which helps in heat and mass
transfer operations.
2. The ease with which fluidized solids can be transported.
3. The good heat transfer properties of gas-fluidized bed. The bubble generated mixing
keeps the bulk of the bed isothermal and high heat transfer rates are obtainable between
the bed and immersed heat transfer surfaces.

Fluidized bed reactors find particular application where the temperature regulation of a
high exothermic reaction is critical or where a catalyst needs to be continuously recycled
between a reactor and regenerator. Currently there is much interest in the potential
advantages of fluidized bed combustors.

Inevitably there are disadvantages:

1. Fluid through rates are limited within the range over which the bed is fluidized: obviously
the bed has to be operated at a velocity higher than Umf but there can be excessive loss of
material carried over from the bed if the operating velocity is too high and there may also be
unacceptable particle damage.
2. Pumping power has to be supplied in order to fluidize the bed and this can be excessive for
very large, deep beds.
3. There are limits to the size and type of particles, which can be handled by this technique.
4. Because of the complexity of fluidized bed behavior there are often difficulties in attempting
to scale-up from smaller scale to industrial units.
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3.2 Determination of Minimum Fluidisation Velocity and Observation of General

Bed Behaviour

Ergun derived a correlation for the prediction of Umf by equating a correlation for pressure
drop through a packed bed at the voidage corresponding to that at minimum fluidization.
εmf to the weight of the bed per unit area following equation1 and obtained the following
form:

[ 1 − 𝐸𝑚𝑓 ] 1.75 𝑅𝑒𝑚²𝑓

𝐴𝑟 = 150 𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑓 + (2)
𝜑²𝐸𝑚³𝑓 ∆𝐸𝑚³𝑓

Where Remf is the Reynolds number in terms of Umf and Ar is the Archimedes number
(both are defined in the nomenclature). The first term of the correlation in Remf tends to
dominate under laminar flow conditions and the second in Re²mf under condition with beds
of very large particles for which the interstitial flow is turbulent. Under transitional
conditions, the contributions of both terms are necessary. The correlation is obviously very
sensitive to the value of εmf used. To use the correlation for prediction purposes εmf maybe
estimated on the measurement on a loosely packed bed but it has been shown that εmf varies
with level of operating temperature under some conditions. It is also difficult to estimate
the particle shape factor, φ, so large errors in the estimation of Umf are likely
(typically±30%).

Estimation of voidage

For materials which have no internal porosity, the voidage can be estimated from the
density of the solid ρp and the density of the bed ρb.

Ρ = 1- ρb
ρp

εmf = 1- ρbmf
ρp

εmf = Mass of particles in bed

Volume of bed at Umf
Shape Factor

The shape factor is, ψ Surface area of a sphere of a given volume

Surface area of particle of the same volume

This is easily calculated for regular geometric shapes but is more difficult to assess for
irregular particles.

The shape factor for the granular material supplied with this unit is about 0.73.
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Measurement of Minimum Fluidization Velocity

The value of Umf required is that under ambient conditions it is the best to measure it
directly. To do this, charge a sufficient quantity of particles into the container to form a
bed. Then fluidize the bed vigorously for a few minutes to breakdown any particle
interlocking. Make measurements of the pressure drop across the bed as the fluidizing gas
velocity is reduced in stages. Plot the results in the form of bed pressure drop against
superficial gas velocity. At the higher gas flow rates the pressure drop would be expected
to have a value equal to that of the bed per unit area, but it may be less than this because
some of the weight of the bed is being supported by the column wall through the
particle/wall interactions.

At low gas flow rates, the pressure drop across the bed should increase from zero gas flow
rate, linearly, with increase in superficial gas velocity, until the bed approaches the
conditions of fluidization. This is because the gas flow through the bed will be laminar.

The minimum fluidizing velocity is derived from the plot as the velocity corresponding to
that at the point of intersection between the raising and flat parts of the curve.

Figure 3: Pressure drop across bed vs. superficial velocity

(If the experiment is performed with beds of much larger/denser particle, e.g. alumina of
mean diameter 1mm, the increased in pressure drop will increase more rapidly because the
flow condition will be changing from laminar to transitional to turbulent).

If the experiment is repeated in the reverse direction by incrementally increasing the gas
velocity from zero and noting the corresponding bed pressure drops, it may not follow the
earlier curve and it certainly will not do so if the bed has been tapped to encourage it to
compact in the static condition with no gas flow through it. This is because of the
reduction in bed voidage, ε, below that of its condition at minimum fluidization, εmf. A
measurement under these conditions will lead to an underestimate of the minimum
fluidizing velocity.
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EXPERIMENT: FLUIDIZATION EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

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TRANSFER AMENDMENT
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Also, when making incremental measurements from the packed bed condition, the bed
pressure drop may initially exceed that of the weight of the bed per unit area just as the bed
comes to the point of fluidization because the drag force has first to increase to break down
the particle interlocking within the bed.

Figure 4: Pressure drop across bed vs. superficial velocity

The transition from the packed to fluidized condition will be sharper if the bed material is
closely sized than if the bed is of wide size distribution. In the latter instance there will be
a tendency for the fines to become fluidized first if pressure drop is being measured as the
gas flow rate is incrementally increased and the approach to the fluidized condition will be
more gradual.

Under such conditions where the fines tend to fluidized and come to the top of the bed,
segregation is occurring. If there is a wide particle size distribution, beds should be
fluidized vigorously to produce a bubbling bed directly and so quickly reach a well-mixed
condition in order to reduce the tendency for segregation to occur. Once it has occurred it
is much more difficult to remix the bed material.

Bed Height

In these tests the bed height should be measured as a function of superficial gas velocity.
At higher velocities this can only be measured approximately because the surface will
fluctuate rapidly as bubbles burst at the surface. The degree of expansion beyond that at
Umf is because of the flow of bubble through the bed. (Note: Although the bubbling bed
may look turbulent, the interstitial gas flow between the particles is laminar except when
fluidizing beds of large/dense particles).

Bubble
Behaviour

It is instructive to look at the bubbling behaviour. Bubbles usually grow as they rise
through the bed. Partly this is a spontaneous process but mostly it occurs by a larger
bubble, which will rise more quickly than a smaller, overtaking the smaller one, which is
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then drawn into the wake of the larger and coalesces with it. With beds of large/dense
particles, however, this coalescence behaviour is different. Bubbles then tend to grow by
cross-wise coalescence. The rising bubbles draw a streak of particles after them and carry
some particles in their wake. This is the mechanism by which solids circulation is
generated.

Because of the influence of the wall surface, bubbles tend to move inwards into the bed
and so one can more plainly see the return flow of solids descending at the wall in
stick/slip flow to replace that which has been carried upwards within the bulk of the bed by
the rising bubbles. Again, with beds of larger/denser particles, the bubbling action that
occurs is not so effective in generating particle mixing as with the other bubbling beds.
The higher the fluidizing velocity, the larger and more numerous will be the bubbles
because most of the excess gas over and above that necessary to fluidize the bed flows as
bubbles.

3.3 Fluidised Bed Heat Transfer Properties

A vigorous bubbling fluidised bed is well mixed because of the particle circulation
generated by the rising bubbles. Consequently, even with highly exothermic reactions, the
bulk of the bed is practically at a uniform temperature. Also, because of the high surface
area exposed to the fluidizing gas by the particles, gas and particles come quickly to
approximately the same temperature. The other designed thermal property of a gas-
fluidised bed is the high rate of heat transfer that can be obtained between it and immersed
or containing heat transfer surface. Three principal mechanisms contribute in the
transference of heat between a fluidized bed and heat transfer surface.

1) For beds particles of diameter less than about 500 m and of density less about 4000 kg
m-3 (the type of bed material supplied with this equipment) but excluding fine cohesive
materials, the important mechanism depends on particle circulation between the bulk of
the region directly adjacent to the heat transfer surface (the particle convective
mechanism of heat transfer). Because of their high heat capacity, the particles are
capable of transferring a lot of heat. When they first arrive close to the heat transfer
surface there will be a large local temperature gradient, the full temperature difference
between that of the bulk of the bed and the transfer surface, and so the instantaneous rate
of heat transfer will be high. But the longer the particles reside close to the transfer
surface, the more nearly will they temperature approach that of the surface as heat flows
between them and the surface and the instantaneous rate of heat transfer will fall. Thus,
averaged over a period of time, higher rates of heat transfer are to be expected under
those conditions of operation, which produce very short particle residence times adjacent
to the heat transfer surface. In the extreme of very short residence times, however, the
highest obtainable coefficient is limited by the thermal conductivity of the gas and the
length of the shortest transfer paths by which the heat can pass by conduction between
the particles and surface. By this mechanism, heat transfer coefficients can be expected
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to increase as the particles size reduces because, in effect, a greater proportion of the heat
transfer surface is than accessible by shorter transfer paths. (With beds of these
materials, heat transfer by convection through the gas is negligible because the interstitial
gas flow is laminar). Because of the complexity of bed behaviour it is not possible to
predict the degree of particle circulation past the transfer surface and the bed-to-surface
heat transfer coefficient from first principles and the published empirical correlations are
of very limited value. One reliable simple correlation has been derived from simple tests
in which a small calorimetric sphere was plunged into a hot bed and coefficient derived
from the rate of change of temperature of the sphere. This has the form:

0.36
h pc max  35.8  K g d p
0.2 0.6
(3)

The coefficient between an immersed cooling tube and fluidized bed would be expected to
be smaller, and the maximum to an immersed cooling tube would be about 700% of that
predicted by equation (3). This is because of the disturbance to particle circulation caused
by the immersed surface and its sustained cool temperature.

2) With beds of larger/denser particles, the interstitial gas flow is turbulent or at least in the
transitional regime. Under these circumstances, heat transfer by convection through the
gas becomes increasingly important; the interphase gas convective component of heat
transfer. As heat transfer by this mechanism becomes the dominating mode, heat transfer
coefficients now begin to increase with increase in particle mean diameter because the
interstitial gas flow is increasing with particle size and so is the heat transferred by
interphase gas convection. Thus there will be a minimum at mean particle diameter of
about 1mm in the maximum bed-to-surface heat transfer coefficient for an air-fluidized
bed of sand.

Figure 5: Bed/Surface heat transfer coefficient diagram

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Effect of particle size on maximum bed-to-surface heat transfer coefficient, hmax , for
operation at: (1) 20C and 1 atmosphere, (2) 20C and 6 atmospheres, and (3) 600C and 1
atmosphere. Interphase gas convective component, hsc, taken as that for quiescent bed;
particle convective component, hpc, estimated difference.

3) At higher temperatures and when there is a marked temperature difference between the
bulk of the bed and the transfer surface, radiant heat transfer becomes an important
mode.

3.4 Surface to bed heat Transfer Experiment

The small heat input from the heater will raise the bed temperature to about 50C and it is
an easy matter to verify that there are negligible temperature gradients within the bulk of a
bubbling fluidized bed by moving the thermocouple probe through the bed. It may be
possible to detect some temperature difference close to the distributor where the cooler
fluidizing gas first enters the bed, but the temperature gradients are very steep here because
the gas rapidly comes to the bed temperature (because of the high surface area exposed
between the particles and the gas).

The material supplied for the beds will illustrate the characteristic heat transfer behaviour
of a gas-fluidised bed for which the particle convective heat transfer mechanism is
dominant. To do this, the moveable probe thermocouple should be clamped to maintain a
fixed position at the side of the heat transfer element.

An approximate measurement can be made of the heat transfer coefficient between the
transfer surface and an unrestrained packed bed by starting with gas flow rates less than
that for minimum fluidisation. (The limitation is that until the bed becomes fluidized and
bubbly, the probe will be reading a local bed temperature, which will probably be lower
than the relevant bed temperature closer to the transfer surface). As the fluidizing gas
velocity is incrementally increased and the heat transfer coefficient estimated from the
corresponding measurements of the wattage input to the heater and the difference between
its surface temperature and that of the bulk of the bed as measured by the probe, there will
be a dramatic increase in the coefficient once the bed becomes fluidized and begins to
bubble.

The actual form of the curve for variation in heat transfer coefficient against the superficial
gas velocity will depend upon the location of the heat transfer surface above the
distributor. Close to the distributor there are many small bubble spread across the cross-
section of the bed and they are not so effective in generating particle circulation past the
transfer surface as are the large bubble formed by coalescence which tend to develop into a
stream up the centre higher within a small-scale bed like this.
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As described above, the key mechanism under these conditions is the transference of
particles between the bulk of the bed and the immediate vicinity of the heat transfer
surface. However, at much higher gas velocities another factor comes into play and
bubbles tend to shroud the heat transfer surface making it difficult for the particles to
approach it. Consequently, the coefficient will then tend to reduce. It is the problem of
trying to predict this bubble-induced circulation that precludes the prediction of bed-to-
surface heat transfer coefficient from first principles.

In boilers fitted with fluidized bed combustors the most effective part of the heat transfer
surface is in the form of tubes immersed within the bed.

A serious problem then is that, because of the high heat transfer coefficient between the
beds and surface, “turn down” (i.e. the controller reduction of heat release) is limited.
When it is desired to run the combustor under lower load, less fuel will be fired to it.
However, because of the high bed-to-tube coefficients, unless something is done, heat will
be removed from the bed at the earlier high rate through the immersed heat transfer
surface. The temperature of the bed will then rapidly fall to a point where combustion
ceases.

One way to overcome this is to operate the bed over a wide range of gas velocities.
Operating at a high velocity, the bed will be highly expended by the consequent high flow
rate of bubbles through it and so a large number of tubes can be immersed within it,
providing a large heat transfer surface area within the bed. Then, when the bed is required
to operate at a much lower loading, the rate at which the fuel is supplied is reduced and the
fluidizing air velocity can also be reduced. The bed will then operate in a less expended
condition and so some of the heat transfer tubes will now be exposed above the bed where
heat transfer to them will be reduced. By this means the area of heat transfer surface
immersed within the bed can be varied according to the output of heat required.

Some measurement of this can be made with this equipment by positioning the heat
transfer surface above the top of the defluidized bed but leaving the probe thermocouple
still immersed within the bed. The surface is now said to be positioned in the splash zone,
(i.e. in that region about the surface of the bed into which particles are sprayed as the
bubbles burst at the surface). By making measurements at increasing gas flow rates, the
coefficients will be found to increase substantially as the surface is increasingly sprayed by
the bed particles at higher gas flow rates. These results should also be related to
measurements of the approximate bed height under the changing operating conditions.
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LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
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4.0 EQUIPMENTS & MATERIALS

1. Digital Indicator 8. Filter

2. Manometer (Pressure Drop) 9. Chamber

3. Air Flowmeter (Low flow) 10. Bed Temperature Sensor

4. Air Flowmeter (High Flow) 11. Heater

5. Air Regulator 12. Air Distribution Chamber

6. Flow Control Valves 13. Air Inlet

7. Pressure Probe 14. Inlet Pressure Manometer

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The unit is suitable for students’ experiments on the characteristic of air flow through a
fixed bed and fluidized bed. The unit incorporates a glass chamber containing the bed
material and an electrical heater for heat transfer studies.

i) Panel:
Epoxy coated mild steel bench with back panel on which the main components are
mounted

ii) Glass Chamber:

Made of glass fitted with distribution chamber, air distributor, air filter, electrical heater,
temperature sensors and pressure drop measuring probe

iii) Electrical Heater:

Power: 250 W
Surface Area: 22.8 cm2
Safety: High temp cut-off by means of a temperature controller

Note: The high temperature cut-off is set to 90 °C. If other temperature setting is
required, set the controller according to Section 5.4.

iv) Flow Meters:

Two rotameters are installed for high and low air flow measurement
Low Flow: 6 – 50 LPM @ 1 atm
High Flow: 20 – 210 LPM @ 1 atm
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v) Manometers:
To measure pressure drop through bed
Range: 300 mmH2O

vi) Digital Displays:

To indicate temperature and heater power measurement

vii) Safety Features:

The electrical components are properly fused and earthed electrical.

1.1 Overall Dimensions

Height : 0.80 m
Width : 0.90 m
Depth : 0.61 m

1.2 General Requirements

Electrical : 240 VAC, 1-phase, 50Hz

Compressed Air : 200 LPM @ 20
0 to 1000 KN/m2 (g)
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5.0 PROCEDURE

5.1 General Start-up Procedures

1. Charge 1.25 kg of the fluidisation bed material into the bed chamber according to
Section 5.5.
2. Close the air inlet control to the unit by turning the handle of the air regulator anti-
clockwise until it stops.
3. Fully open the high flow control valve by turning it anti-clockwise.
4. Supply compressed air to the unit and slowly open the air inlet control by turning the
handle clockwise until the flow rate indicated on the high flow rotameters reaches the
highest indication level 100 LPM. Then regulate the airflow to the required flow by
turning the flow control valve.
5. Switch on the main power supply.
6. Make sure that the heater switch is turned off; then adjust the heater power to
minimum before switching on the heater by turning both coarse and fine power
regulator fully anti-clockwise.
7. Then, turn on the main switch on the panel.

5.2 General Shut-down Procedures

1. Adjust the power control to minimum and turn off the heater.
2. Allow the heater to cool down to below 50°C with continuous air flow.
3. Then turn off the main switch and close the air inlet control.
4. Discharge the bed chamber according to Section 5.5 if needed.
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EXPERIMENT 1 : BEHAVIOUR OF PARTICLES IN A FLUIDIZED BED WITH UPWARD AIR FLOW

OBJECTIVES
To observe the behaviour of particles in a fluidization bed with upward air

PROCEDURE

1. Weigh about 1.25 kg of the 100 grit (125 µm) aluminium oxide and charge into the bed
chamber.
2. Raise the heater, pressure probe and temperature sensor above the bed.
3. The airflow should be slowly turned to its maximum value (100LPM) and then steadily
decreased to desired flow rate. The bed movement and the nature of the bubble
behavior should be continuously observed.
Note:
The maximum experimental air flow varies with different bed materials depending on
the sizes and the characteristics.
The air filter at the top of the chamber may tend to become choked at excessive air
flow when fine bed materials are used.
4. When the airflow has been reduced to zero, the height of the bed should be noted.
Then, the bed chamber should be tapped several times with a flat hand and the
reduction of the volume of the bed material noted as the particles rearrange to a lower
voidage.
5. If the airflow is now steadily increased, the increase of bed volume to approximately its
volume before tapping will be seen; just before any particle movement is observed.
Further increase of air flow rate from here will cause similar bubble behavior and
movement to those seen earlier.
6. Increase the air flow again and now proceed to the temperature distribution behavior
of a fluidized bed.
7. Lower the heater into the bed and adjust the heating power to raise the bed
temperature to about 20 oC above the air inlet temperature.
8. Without moving the heater, slide the bed temperature probe within the well fluidized
bed. Observe that there is little variation of temperature within the bed material. This
indicates that the bed material is well fluidized.
9. Now, raise the temperature probe into the air space just above the bed. It will be found
that the air temperature is close to the bed temperature. This is due to the very large
heat transfer area of the particles and the intimate contact between the air and the bed
material.
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EXPERIMENT 2 : INVESTIGATION OF THE BED HEIGHT, BED PRESSURE DROP AND UPWARD
AIR VELOCITY THROUGH A BED OF GRANULAR MATERIAL

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the changes of bed height, bed pressure drop and upward air velocity through a bed
granular material as a paced and fluidized bed

PROCEDURE
1. Weigh about 1.25 kg of the chosen aluminium oxide and charge into the bed chamber.
2. Raise the heater to the highest position and turn off the heater switch and then lower
the temperature probe into the bed.
3. Slowly regulate the air flow until the bed material is completely fluidized. Allow the bed
to mix thoroughly for two or three minutes.
4. Start the experiment from lower flow rate at room temperature. Control air flow to
desired flow rate, e.g. 20LPM. Wait until all readings become steady state and record
the following readings:

i) The bed material temperature, T1

ii) The air inlet temperature, T2
iii) The bed height
iv) The pressure drop across the bed, which is the difference between pressures
indicated with the probe at its highest and lowest positions.

5. Repeat step 4 using 5 different air flow rate and record the readings.
6. With the air flow reduced to zero, tap the bed chamber with flat hand until the bed
material reaches a minimum height.
 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
REVISION NO:
TRANSFERS

EXPERIMENT: FLUIDIZATION EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AND FLUID BED HEAT
TRANSFER AMENDMENT
DATE:

Material = Aluminium Oxide Grit

Mean Particle Diameter (dp) = . 125 . μm ( 100 grit)
Density of Particle (ρp) = . 3770 . kg/m3
Cross sectional area of bed (A) = . 0.007088 . m2
Mass of particles (m) = . 1.25 . kg
Air Flow = Increase

1 2 3 4 5
Air Flowrate, V (LPM)
Bed material temp, T1 (°C)
Air inlet temp, T2 (°C)
Bed height, H (mm)
Air flow through bed, Vb (L/s)
Superficial velocity, U (m/s)
Pressure drop across bed, DP
(mmH2O)
Observation

V T1
Air flow through bed, Vb =  , where T1 and T2 is in K
60 T 2
Vb
Superficial velocity, U =
1000  A

Plot a graph of Pressure Drop (mmH2O) and Bed Height (mm) vs superficial velocity (m/s) in one graph.
 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
REVISION NO:
TRANSFERS

EXPERIMENT: FLUIDIZATION EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AND FLUID BED HEAT
TRANSFER AMENDMENT
DATE:

EXPERIMENT 3: INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF FLOWRATE ON THE SURFACE HEAT

TRANSFER COEFFICIENT IN A FLUIDIZED BED

OBJECTIVES
Investigation of the effect of flowrate on the surface heat transfer coefficient in a fluidized bed

PROCEDURE

1. Weigh about 1.25 kg of the chosen aluminium oxide and charge into the bed chamber.
2. Raise the heater to the highest position and turn the heater control to zero and then
lower the temperature probe into the bed.
3. Slowly regulate the airflow until the bed material is completely fluidized.
4. Immerse the heater into the bed material to 40 mm above the distributor and locate
the temperature probe at the same height of heater.
5. Adjust the heater power control to 5 W. Next, adjust the required air flow rate. Allow
the conditions to stabilize and record the followings readings:
i. The bed material temperature, T1
ii. The air inlet temperature, T2
iii. Heater surface temperature, T3
6. Repeat the experiment with 10 W power reading.
 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
REVISION NO:
TRANSFERS

EXPERIMENT: FLUIDIZATION EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AND FLUID BED HEAT
TRANSFER AMENDMENT
DATE:

Material = Aluminium Oxide Grit

Mean Particle Diameter (dp) = . 125 . μm ( 100 grit)
Density of Particle (ρp) = . 3770 . kg/m3
Cross sectional area of bed (A) = . 0.007088 . m2
Mass of particles (m) = . 1.25 . kg
Surface area of heater (Ah) = ____0.00228 __ m2
Heater Power, Q (W) = 5 and 10 W

1 2 3 4 5
Height of heater (mm)
Height of T1 probe (mm)
Air Flowrate, V (LPM)
Bed material temp, T1 (°C)
Air inlet temp, T2 (°C)
Heater surface temperature, T3
(°C)
Air flow through bed, Vb (L/s)
Superficial velocity, U (m/s)
Surface heat transfer
coefficient, h (W/m2K)

V T1
Air flow through bed, Vb =  , where T1 and T2 is in K
60 T 2
Vb
Superficial velocity, U =
1000  A

Plot a graph of Flowrate (LPM) vs Heat Transfer Coefficient, h (W/m2K) for each of the Power (W).
 FACULTY: ENGINEERING EDITION:
TECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY: HEAT AND MASS
REVISION NO:
TRANSFERS

EXPERIMENT: FLUIDIZATION EFFECTIVE DATE: 18/2/2013

AND FLUID BED HEAT
TRANSFER AMENDMENT
DATE:

6.0 DATA ANALYSIS

7.0 DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSION

Approved by / Disahkan oleh :

Prepared by / Disahkan oleh:

Signature / Tandatangan :
Signature/Tandatangan:
Name / Nama : DR. NOOR AKHMAZILLAH
Name/Nama: DR. NOR FAIZAH BINTI RAZALI
BINTI MOHD FAUZI
Date/Tarikh :
Date / Tarikh :