Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology

Chemical Engineering Laboratory- III

ChE-304

Experiment No: 07
Experiment Name: Investigation of Liquid-Solid and Gas-Solid
Fluidized Bed

Prepared By:
Abdullah Jubaer
ID: 2002035
Level/Term: 3/2
Lab Group: 1
Partner’s Id:
2002031
2002032
2002033
2002034 .

Submitted To
Dr Mahbuba Jannat
Lecturer
Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET

Date of Performance: 12-11-24

Date of Submission: 19-11-24

Summary
The verification of Richardson-Zaki equation for liquid fluidized bed and observation of the
pressure drop characteristic of gas-solid fluidization was the main objective of this experiment.
In this experiment for liquid-solid fluidization water and resin bed were used. At first, the initial
height of the bed was collected. The water flow rate was increased by controlling the opening
valve. Water sample was collected for a particular time and the collected sample was weighed.
The procedure was repeated for decreasing velocity of water. For gas-solid fluidization, air was
used as the gas to fluidize a resin bed. Gas-solid fluidization was visualized in a 2D bed (bed
with negligible thickness) and the flow patterns at different flow rates were sketched. In another
bed (3D) the pressure drop was recorded for each corresponding velocity of air. From initial
height and voidage the constant ‘k’ was determined. Then voidage was calculated for each
height. From mass flow rate and the cross sectional area of the bed the superficial velocity was
calculated. Superficial velocity was plotted against voidage in a log-log graph. From this graph,
the minimum fluidization velocity (0.97 m/s for increasing flow rate and 1.22 m/s for
decreasing flow rate), terminal settling velocity (29.98 m/s and 10.78 m/s for increasing and
decreasing flow rates respectively) and Richardson-Zaki index (3.48 and 2.85)was determined.
For, gas-solid fluidized bed pressure drop was plotted against superficial velocity of air in a
log-log graph.
Experimental Section

Apparatus

 Stopwatch
 Fixed bed
 Rotameter
 Manometer
 Bucket

Experimental Set Up

Figure 1: Experimental setup for investigation of liquid-solid fluidized bed

 Figure 2: Experimental setup for investigation of 2-D and 3-D gas-solid fluidized bed

Experimental Procedure

All the necessary theoretical backgrounds were discussed prior to the experiment being
conducted; lab safety precautions were taken, and instructions were maintained throughout the
experiment. For the first part of the experiment in the liquid-solid fluidized bed, data that will
be required on the initial bed height, column diameter, and particle size were noted. The water
flow rate then started and in total 8 observations were taken for increasing the water flow rate
by controlling the valve. For each observation, water was collected and weighted for a
particular time interval for flow rate measurement. For the second part, solid-gas fluidization,
the height of the 3D column and pressure drop were measured for 6 observations of varying
gas velocity. For the 2D column, the different flow regimes were observed for different
increasing gas velocities and the relevant flow patterns were sketched accordingly.
Observed Data:
In liquid-solid fluidization bed, the following data had been observed.

Column diameter, D1 = 2 inch =5.08 cm

Density of particles, ρ = 2.5 g/mL

Mesh number = -14+16

Initial height of bed, Ho = 6.8 inch

Table 1: Observed data table for fluidized bed while increasing the flow rate.

Mass of Water Height of Bed Time

Observation No.
(kg) (inch) (s)

01 0.77 7.00 30.08

02 0.95 7.30 30.15

03 1.17 7.75 30.07

04 1.31 8.30 30.44

05 1.40 8.50 30.22

06 1.60 9.00 30.23

07 1.75 10.00 30.15

08 2.10 10.75 30.09

Table 2: Observed data table for fluidized bed while decreasing the flow rate.

Mass of Water Height of Bed Time

Observation No.
(kg) (inch) (s)

01 2.30 10.75 30.22

02 2.05 10.00 30.01

03 2.00 9.50 30.21

04 1.40 8.10 30.15

05 1.05 7.75 30.22

06 0.90 7.40 30.22

07 0.70 7.00 30.03

08 0.50 6.67 30.43

In gas-solid fluidization bed, the following data had been observed.

Column diameter, D = 6 inch
2

Table 3: Observed data table for pressure reading of gas-solid fluidized bed.

Manometer Reading (cm)

Observation No. Volumetric Flow Rate (L/min)
Left Right

01 100 85.10 71.10

02 150 85.80 71.10

03 200 86.00 70.80

04 250 86.10 70.50

05 300 86.20 70.40

Calculated Data:
Table 4: Calculated data table for mass flow rate, superficial velocity and voidage for
increasing flow rate
For increasing flow rate

Obs. Mass flow rate Superficial velocity

No. Voidage ε
ṁ (gm/s) U (cm/s)

1 25.60 1.27 0.44

2 31.51 1.56 0.46

3 38.91 1.93 0.49

4 43.04 2.13 0.52

5 46.33 2.29 0.54

6 52.93 2.62 0.56

7 58.04 2.87 0.61

8 69.79 3.45 0.63

Table 5: Calculated data table of mass flow rate, superficial velocity and voidage for
decreasing flow rate.

Mass flow rate Superficial velocity

Observation No. Voidage
ṁ (g/s) U (cm/s)

76.11 3.77 0.63

1

68.31 3.38 0.61

2

66.20 3.28 0.58

3

46.43 2.30 0.51

4

34.75 1.72 0.49

5

29.78 1.47 0.47

6

23.31 1.15 0.44

7

16.43 0.81 0.41

8

Table 6: Calculated data for Flow Rates, Superficial Velocity and Corresponding Pressure
Drops across the column.

Air flow rate Superficial velocity Pressure Drop

Observation No.
q (cm /s)
3
U (cm/s) ΔP (cm of CCl ) 4

1666.67
1 9.14 14.00

2 2500.00 13.71 14.70

3 3333.33 18.27 15.20

4 4166.67 22.84 15.60

5 5000.00 27.41 15.80

Graphical Representation:

Increasing Flow Rate

10.00

y = 19.983x3.4583
R² = 0.9792

Superficial velocity,
U (cm/s)
1.00
0.10 1.00

0.10
Voidage, ε

Figure 3: Variation of superficial velocity of the fluid with the bed voidage for the increasing flow
rate of water.
 Decreasing Flow Rate

10.00

y = 10.788x2.5093
R² = 0.9821
Superficial velocity,
U (cm/s)

1.00
0.10 1.00
Voidage, ε

Figure 1: Variation of superficial velocity of the fluid with the bed voidage for the decreasing flow
rate

Pressure Drop vs Superficial Velocity

100.00

y = 13.644x0.0595
R² = 0.823
Pressure drop, ΔP

10.00

1.00
1.00 10.00 100.00

Superficial Velocity, cms-1

Figure 2: The variation of pressure drops with the superficial velocity for the gas-solid fluidized bed
Result & Discussion
For the first part of the experiment, as gas-liquid fluidized bed was observed and minimum
fluidized velocity, terminal settling velocity, Richardson Zaki index was calculated and
comparing with the theoretical value we can observe a notable difference in the experimental
value from the theoretical one.

Table 07: Calculated value for minimum fluidization velocity, terminal settling velocity &
Richardson-Zaki index

State Minimum Terminal Richardson-

fluidization velocity, settling Zaki index,
umf (cm/s) velocity, ut n
(cm/s)
Experimental 0.97 19.983 3.48
(Increasing)

Experimental 1.22 10.78 2.50

(Decreasing)

Theoretical 1.197 15.18 2.92

On log-log paper, superficial velocity vs. voidage relationship was plotted. From figure 3 and
4 it can be seen that both the plots are approximately linear. Since the Richardson-Zaki equation
is U = Ut εn, a fitted power equation of the form y=axb gave the values of Ut and n, where a=Ut
and n=b. The value of Umf was found from the fitted equation for ε=ε0=0.42. For increasing
flow rate, the values were Umf = 0.97 cm/s, Ut = 19.983 cm/s and n = 3.45. For decreasing flow
rate, the values were Umf = 1.22 cm/s, Ut = 10.78 cm/s and n = 2.4.

Theoretical values were determined by a trial and error method using MATLAB. The minimum
fluidization velocity was found to be 1.197 cm/s. The Terminal settling velocity was 15.18
cm/s and the value of Richardson-Zaki index was 2.92. It is evident that experimental and
theoretical values are quite different which reflects considerable experimental error.

Figure 5 shows the pressure drop for increasing velocity in 3-D air fluidization. Pressure drop
had to remain constant after the fluidization has occurred. A slight change in pressure was
noticed which may be thought of as negligible. But this variance may have occurred due to
imperfect connection of manometer with the inlet air position.
For 2-D air fluidization different flow patterns were observed. As this was aggregative
fluidization, the solid didn’t expand uniformly. Channeling, slugging and turbulent patterns
were observed which had been drawn in the Experimental section.
Schemetic of Fluidization Regime

Volumetric Flow
Rate of Gas Reference Image
(L/min)

50

75
100

125

150
Sample Calculation
Liquid-Solid fluidized bed:

Velocity Calculation

Cross sectional area of the column, A = πD2/4 = 3.1416×5.082/4 cm2

= 20.2683 cm2

At 25⁰C water density, ρ = 0.99704 g/cc

For observation No. 05

Mass of water collected, w =1400 g

Time, t =30.22 s

𝑤 1020
Mass flowrate, m = = 30.11 = 46.33 g/s
𝑡

𝑚 46.33
Superficial velocity of water, Us = ρ𝐴 = 0.99704×20.2683

=2.29 cm/s

Voidage Calculation

For fixed bed of spherical particle, ε = 0.42

Fixed bed height, H0 = 17.272 cm

Now, K= H0 × (1- εmf) = 17.272×(1-0.42) = 10.017 cm

Voidage, ε = 1-k/H

10.017
=1 − 21.59

= 0.54

For increasing velocity-

From figure 06,

Ut = 19,98 cm/s n = 3.92

So, Umf = 0.97 cm/s

For decreasing velocity-

From figure 07,

Ut = 10.78 cm/s n = 2.5

So, Umf = 1.22 cm/s

Theoretical Calculation

Temperature of water = 25⁰C.

Density of water, ρw= 0.99704 g/cm3.

Viscosity of water, µw = 0.008891 g/cm.s.

g = 981 cm/s2.

Particle diameter, dp = 0.1283 cm

Particle density, ρs = 2.5 g/ cm3

Voidage, ε = 0.42

R′×Re′² 2dp³ρw×g×(ρs−ρw)
Now, =
ρu² 3µ²

=(2×0.12833×0.99704×981 × (2.5-0.99704))/(3×0.0088912)

= 26182.825

Ret = 300 (From graph)

𝑑𝑝×𝑢𝑡×ρw
Ret = µw

Ret×µw
Ut = dp×ρw

= (300× 0.008891)/(0.1283×0.99704)

= 15,85

εmf3 (ρs−ρw)×g×𝑑𝑝2 0.423 (2.5−0.99704)×981×0.12832

Umf = 0.0055 × 1−εmf× = 0.0055 × ×
µw 1−0.42 0.008891

= 1.197
 ln(umf/ut)
n= ln(εmf )

= ln(1.917/20.85)/ln(0.42)

=2.92

For gas-solid fluidized bed

Column diameter, D2 = 6 in =15.24 cm

Column area, A2 = π D22/4

= 3.1416×15.242/4
= 182.415 cm2

For observation no. 05

Air flowrate, q = 300 L/min

= 200×103/60
= 4166.67 cc/s
Superficial velocity, u = q/A2
= 4166.67/182.415 cm/s
= 27.41 cm/s

Pressure drop, ΔP = 15.80 cm (CCl4)

Matlab Code
clc
clear all
close all
dp=2.5; %perticle density
dw=0.99666; %water density
vw=0.0085; %water viscosity
Re=2000; % Reynolds number assumption
Dp=0.0991; %diameter of particle
e=0.42;
g=981;
cd=0;
err=100;
while err>0.0001
if Re<1
cd=24/Re;
elseif Re>1000
cd=0.44;
else
cd=(24/Re)*(1+0.14*(Re)^0.7);
end
ut=sqrt((4*(dp-dw)*Dp*g)/(3*cd*dw));
Ren=(Dp*ut*dw)/(vw);
err=abs((Ren-Re)/Ren);
Re=Ren;
end
umf=0.0055*(e^3/(1-e))*(dp-dw)*g*((Dp^2)/vw);
n=log(umf/ut)/log(e);
umf
ut
n

Output: Re=176.83, Ut=15.18, Umf= 2.197, n= 2.92,

 Marking Scheme

Experiment no. 07
Investigation of Liquid-Solid and Gas-Solid Fluidized Bed

Name: Abdullah Jubaer

Student number: 2002035

Section and % marks allocated Marks

Summary (10%)

Experimental set up (20%)

Observed data (5%)

Calculated data (10%)

Sample calculation (20%)

Result and discussion (20%)

Quality of tables and figures (10%)

Overall presentation (5%)

Total (100%)