Problem (Fluidization)
1. A packed bed of solid particles of density 2500 kg/m 3, occupies a depth of 1 m in a vessel of cross-
sectional area 0.04 m2. The mass of solids in the bed is 50 kg and the surface-volume mean diameter of the
particles is 1 mm. A liquid of density 800 kg/m3 and viscosity 0.002 Pa.s flows upwards through the bed.
(i) Calculate the voidage (volume fraction occupied by voids) of the bed
(ii) Calculate the pressure drop across the bed when the volume flow rate of liquid is 1.44 m 3/h.
(iii) Calculate the pressure drop across the bed when it becomes fluidized.
2. 50 kg of 500 μm Copper particles (ρp = 8.8 gm/cc) is fluidized using water (viscosity = 0.01 g/cm.s) at
ordinary conditions in a column of diameter 20 cm. What is the bed height when the velocity is 4.2 cm/s?
3. Copper particle (ρp = 8.8 gm/cc) of size 1 mm diameter is fluidized using water at ordinary condition.
What is the minimum fluidizing velocity? (Assume bed porosity is 0.42).
4. Boiler feed water is deionized by pumping it downward through a bed of ionexchange resin. The resin
has spherical particles sized to -8 + 10 mesh. The deionizer is 4 ft. in diameter by 6 ft. long and operating
flow rate of 20 gal/min/ft3 of bed in used. What pressure drop exists through the bed?
If the ion-exchange resin has a particle density of 80 Ib/ft 3 and it is regenerated by back-flushing with 10
percent brine solution (ρ = 1.07 gm/cm3) at a rate such that the bed is expanded 100 percent, what rate of
brine flow is required?
5. A sand filter consists of uniform spherical particles of -20+28 mesh size. After back flushing with water,
the sand bed has settled to a stable depth of 6 ft and is flooded with water to a depth of 3 ft above the top of
the sand. If the drained valves are opened, how long will it take the bed to drain until the water level is even
with the top of the bed?