ChE 381 Process Laboratory Project

Fluidisation
Result Report

Thain Ken Hong Tay Shin Ying Lesly Mohd Izzat Kehinde Opeyemi Oladele Lim Siew Siew

Due Date: 16th August, 2011

Supervisor(s): Ms Jia Chi Lai

We declare that this report entitled_______________________________________ is solely our own work. All contributions made by others have been duly acknowledged.

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Summary
Fluidization occurs in the bed when the superficial velocity has been reached and that the particles in the bed become fully suspended and thus the fluid -particle mixture can then act as a fluid itself (Fluidized Bed). The fluidized bed apparatus was studied and explored in order to observe the behaviour of granular particles during the fluidization process to study the correlation between bed height, bed pressure drop, bed temperature, particles size and upward velocity through a bed of granular material. The experiment was performed with particle 120 grit and 60 grit sizes, and the experiment was repeated u sing two different temperatures 50 and 60 for each particle size. Due to the larger weight exerted by the bigger particles, the airflow across the bed is smaller compared to that of the smaller particles. For the 120 grit size particles it was also observed that the overall pressure drop is less compared to that of the 60 grit particle due to was less drag and friction force between the air and the particles. A higher bed height was also achieved for the 120 grit size particle as the airflow was increased as compared to the 60 grit size particle. All necessary safety precautions were in place for this experiment. Even though there were few deviations from the proposed possible outcomes which are due to human errors and equipment problems. It can be said that the objectives of the experiment was achieved and the possible outcomes reached.

Table of Contents
1. Objectives-------------------------------------------- -----------------------1 2. Apparatus description--------------------------------------------------- 1 3. Experiment procedure -------------------------------------------------- 3 y y Changing of bed material--------------------------------------Experimental procedure-----------------------------------------

4. Apparatus description--------------------------------------------------5. Analysis and discussion ------------------------------------------------6. Recommendation--------------------------------------------------------7. Conclusion------------------------------------------------------------------8. References-----------------------------------------------------------------9. Appendix-------------------------------------------------------------------y y y Appendix A -------------------------------------------------- ------Appendix B---------------------------------------------------------Appendix C----------------------------------------------------------

Obj ti
upward air flow and to study the correlation between bed height, bed pressure drop, bed temperature, particles size and upward velocity through a bed of gra nular material.

Apparatus D s ription

Increasin

Figure 1 Fluidized Bed Apparatus (Saptoro 2011

The

jec ves

his e e ime

monitor the behaviour of partic es in a be with

The apparatus used in the experiment is as shown above, each part of which is properly labelled and with its respective function. Digital Indicator y To show the measurements 2. Manometer y To measure the pressure drop 3. Air Flowmeter (Low flow) y To measure the rate of low flow 4. Air Flowmeter (High flow) y To measure the rate of the high flow 5. Air Regulator y To regulate and control the air flow rate 6. Flow Control Valves y To control the fluid flow 7. Pressure Probe y To measure the pressure drop in the fluidised bed 8. Filter y To filter the air flowing into the fluidized bed 9. Chamber y Where fluidization occurs 10. Bed Temperature Sensor, T1 y To detect the bed temperature across the bed 11. Heater y To supply heat energy to the air flowing into the fluidization chamber 12. Air Distribution Chamber y A section for air distribution 13. Air Inlet temperature sensor, T2 y To detect the temperature of the inlet air flow 14. Air Inlet y A section where air flows into the fluidization chamber 1.

Experimental Procedures
Changing Bed Material First, the thermocouple probe, heating element and pressure probe were levered to the highest part of the bed chamber. Then, one hand was used to carry the bed chamber for support and the six nuts from the chamber supporting screws which pass through the mounting bracket were dismantled. The bed chamber was extracted cautiously and the loose filter taken cared of. A required amount of granular material usually to a depth of 10 to 20 mm was transferred into the chamber. The air chamber seal was properly wiped to remove all particles that can cause leakage which would affect the pressure drop. Next, the unit was rebuilt in backwards order and the filter was ensured to be per fectly placed in its location. The probes and element were lowered to the bottom of the chamber. Finally, the axis of the chamber was placed vertically. Investigations of the relationship between bed height, bed pressure drop, bed temperature, particle sizes and upward air velocity through a bed of granular material Experimental procedure Before starting the experiment, the initial pressure reading is noted . Then, the heater was lifted to the uppermost position, the heater control was switched to zero and the temperature probe was descended into the bed. The chosen granular material of 60 grit size was transferred into the bed chamber and all the components were reconstructed. The air flow control was rotated anti-clockwise to ensure the highest indicated air flow and the bed was left to blend evenly for about two to three minutes. Keeping the air flow rate, constant, the air inlet temperature, T 2, bed material temperature, T1, the bed height h, the pressure drop, P across the bed, the velocity of the air through the bed, by using the correlation below, are measured.

The air flow rate was decreased in small intervals until there is no flow and the previous step is repeated. Then the bed chamber wall was tapped with flat hand until the bed achieves a minimum height. The procedure above was repeated and observations were made. The behaviour of the bed at all stages was observed. Finally, the experiment was repeated by transferring a new set of chosen granular material, 120 grit sizes into the bed chamber and the experiment was extended further for various bed temperature and other sizes of particles of the same material density. After conducting the experiment, all apparatus were cleaned and materials used were placed back at its origin. (Saptoro 2011)

Observation Datasheet Mean particle size: Constant temperature set: Air flow Air flow rate rate recorded recorded , Vm , Vm Bed material tempera tueT1 Air inlet temperat ureT2 (K) Bed height, hb (mm)

Initial pressure, P1: Air flow through bed, Vb (L/s) Superfic ial velocity, Vs (m/s) Final pressure , P2 (mmH2 Pressure drop, P (mmH2

(L/min)

(L/s)

(K)

O)

O)

Results

2 PAGES

Analysis and Discussion

From the graphs shown in appendix C figure 2 &3, it will be observed that the pressure drop is seen to vary proportionally with the superficial v elocity of the air flow at both temperatures. The increasing drag force and friction present in the bed indicates that air flow has more contact with the particles during fluidisation; therefore a greater distortion to the inlet air flow through the bed exhibits the increase in pressure drop. An incr ease of temperature in the packed bed will increase the pressure drop. A possible explanation is that before fluidisation occurs, the packed bed easily heats up the inlet air flow due to a large surface area. The air flow gains more kinetic energy to escape from the packed bed, the heat transfer to the air flow causing the air to expand hence increase the air flow rates, thus increasing the pressure drop reading inside the chamber. The experimental value obtained shows that the pressure drop decreases with the increase of temperature, and this is due to misfit of the base of fluidisation chamber which leads to leakage of air pressure. The bed height increases with the increase of superficial velocity. As the particles are subjected to air flow, they start to separate from each other due to the increase of drag force. It is also noticed that a smaller size of fluidised particles will result in a higher bed height because a smaller drag force is required to oppose the weight of particles. T he bed height also increases with the bed temperature since the particles are able to move more

freely upon gaining energy from the heat source. At a same flow rate, the bed height increases when a bed of smaller particles are used. It is because when the particle is small, the weight of each particle is lighter. From Figure 9 we can briefly discuss what happened during the experiment. Initially we have to discuss generally about the process happened. Firstly the bed particles needed to be heated to the required temperature. Wh en looking at the size of the particle, smaller particles will results higher densities of packed bed, thus the heating time for the smaller particle to be at the required temperature is longer. For 60 grit particles at 50 oC, the temperature reading insid e the chamber is decreasing as the air flow is higher, this is because the when air is flowing through the packed bed, collision between air and the bed particle happened. This is because the bed particle s kinetic energy is transferred to the air particles producing the air flow to be higher as the air flow gain kinetic energy and the temperature inside the chamber decreases as higher flow is used. For 60 grit particles at 60 oC, we can observe that the graph (figure 10) is increased initially and decrease at the end. This is where human error happened. The bed should be left to stabilize for a few minutes before taking the measurement. This to let the bed particle to reached at the required temperature which is at 60 oC, when the bed particle is not reaching the temperature and the experiment is started, it can be observed the bed temperature is increasing and at the same time the heat are transferred to the air particle by colliding the air bed particle. Hence, the increment of the bed temperature can be observed initially and when the bed particle s temperature reaches the required temperature, a significant temperature drop can be observed as shown in the graph. For 120 grit particles at 50 oC and 60 oC graph(figure 10), the same pattern of graph can be observed due to the same type of human error that have been made. There are also some difficulties were experienced during the experiment. The measurements of the data may be influenced by human error indicated by the fluctuating bed heights observed fr om the fluidising chamber. An average bed height was directly estimated, which causes uncertainties to the actual average value. Besides, the slight leakage of the fluidisation chamber can produce a significant amount of error due to improper installation. These errors lead to an inconsistency of results, however in overall the validity of the results still hold.

Recommendation From this experiment we would like to suggest for a better improvement. The bed particle should be heated to the required tempera ture before it being transfer into the chamber; this is to avoid the particles to have an uneven temperature. The other reasons this idea to be suggested because, when the heating process happened inside the chamber, the heat will transfer to the pipe belo w the chamber thus affecting the inlet temperature. One of the observations can be made at the inlet temperature that the inlet temperature is changing instead of constant inlet temperature.

Conclusion
From the discussed results above it can be concluded that the expected outcomes and objectives of the report were met. The relationship between the upward air flow and the bed height, bed pressure drop, bed temperature, particles size and upward velocity through a bed of granular material has been verified according to the proposed outcomes in the pre-lab. As with every experiment, there were sources of error that ranged from human inaccuracy to apparatus faults. These faults include error in measuring the pressure drop at higher air flow rates du e to manometer fluctuations, holes and leaks throughout the system skewing the pressure drop, and human error in measuring the bed height. This is the reason for the variations in some of the values obtained.

References
Saptoro, A. Laboratory Manual, ChE 381 Process Laboratory Projects, 3rd Edition. 2011. Roy, G.K., and K. J. R. Sarma. "Fluidized bed heat transfer." Department of Chemical Engineering, Regional Engineering College, Rourkela-8, 1970: 8.http://dspace.nitrkl.ac.in:8080/dspace/bitstream/2080/898/1/Gkroy1.pdf(accessed July 28, 2011)

Richardson, J.F, J.H Harker, and J.R Backhurst. 2002. Coulson and Richardson's Chemical Engineering Volume 2 - Particle Technology and Separation Processes (5th Edition). Accessed August 14th

http://www.knovel.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/web/portal/browse/display?_EXT_K NOV EL_DISPLAY_bookid=2997&VerticalID=0 Subramaniam, R. Shankar. 2011. Flow through Packed Beds and Fluidized Beds. Accessed July 26, http://web2.clarkson.edu/projects/subramanian/ch301/notes/packfluidbed.pdf Schreiberov, Lenka and Martin Kohout. 2011. Fluidization. Accessed July 26, http://www.vscht.cz/uchi/english/ped/lab.chi.fl.eng.pdf Saptoro. A and Deeptangsu Chaudhary. ChE 323 Transport Phenomena, External Flows: Flow in Porous Media, Curtin University Sarawak, 2011.
Coulson, J.M., J.F. Richardson, J.H. Harker, and J.R. Backhurst. 2002. Particle Technology and Separation Processes. England: Butterworth-Heinemann.

McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C., and Harriot, P. 1993. Unit operations of chemical engineering. 5th ed., 154 - 166, Singapore: McGraw-Hill.