Fluidized BedCHE 381 Group 5

3/30/2011

Alex Guerrero

Andrew Duffy

Bernard Hsu

Daniyal Qamar

Jeff Tyska

Ryan Kosak

Tomi DamoSource: EPA

Introduction Purpose

• Measure the pressure drop through a fluidized bed column

• Observe the affects of fluid velocity on the bed• Observe the affects of the temperature on the

bed• Determine the point of minimum fluidized velocity

Technical• Pressure drop is measured for varying air flow

rates, particle sizes and bed temperatures • Calculated value is the superficial velocity

Theory Necessary Equations

• Bed Void Fraction

Fluid Velocity

Settling Velocity

Ergun Equation

Operation Assumptions Relatively well separated particles

Constant Bed Temperature

Measurements are taken at Steady State conditions

Apparatus1. Tops to fluidized beds2. Fluidized bed columns3. Ceramic spheres4. Rotameter5. Pressure gauge6. Valve7. Valve8. Pressure gauge9. Rotameter10. Valve11. Pipette bulbs12. U-Tube manometer13. Half turn valves14. Heater15. Thermocouple

Materials and Supplies Air Sand Silica Sieve Trays Graduated

Cylinders Shop Vacuum

Procedure1. Stack sieve trays accordingly to separate out sand

2. Determine sand and silica sample densities using graduated cylinder

3. Load respective column with sand ( 6-10 inches)

4. Turn on air supply and slowly open and increase air flow while taking recordings. Increments of 10 % of max flow

5. Record air flow rate, pressure drop, height of bed and any related observations

6. Repeat with second sand sample and repeat

7. Clean sand column

8. Load and heat up silica column

9. Repeat 3 -6 for silica column

Experimental Challenges Keeping the air flow steady using the

valve at the bottom of column

Keeping the silica at a constant temperature

Filtering out size categorizes of sand particles

Safety Sand could come out the top of the

column and get into eyes

Keep hands clear of heat supply and heated materials

Use vacuum responsibly preventing unintended suction of personal items

Sand can get slippery when on the floor

Report References Bird, R. Byron, Warren E. Stewart, and Edwin N.

Lightfoot. Transport Phenomena. New York: J. Wiley, 2007. Print.

"Fluidized Beds." University of Illinois at Chicago - UIC. Web. 25 Jan. 2010. <http://www.uic.edu/depts/chme/UnitOps/che381-2005f-frame.html>.

  Sinnott, Ray, and Gavin Towler. Chemical Engineering

Design. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2009. Print. W.E. McCabe, J.C. Smith, and P. Harriott 2001. Unit

Operations of Chemical Engineering, McGraw Hill, New York.