Builefin 504

BUI~EAU OF MINES

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FLUID FLOW THROUGH PACKED AND

FLUIDIZED SYSTEMS :
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By M. Leva, M. Weinfraub, M. ~rummer, M. Pollchik, and H. H. Sforch

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UNITED STATES QOVERNMENT PRINTINQ OFFICE, WASHINQTON : 1951 i ! ¸'~

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Oscar L. Chapman, Secrefary

BUREAU OF MINES
James Boyd, Director

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For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office (i]
Washington 25, D. C. - - Price $1.00
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CONTENTS
Page Page
I n t r o d u c l iou ............................... 1 Pressure drop through packed tubes, viscous i

.~.cklloWh.dgl~t,~it s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 flow--Continued t
L i t e r a t u r e ~lu'vey _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Shape-factor estimations ................... 51
Fluid l l . w t hr,mzl~ p a c k e d b e d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 F h f i d i z a t i o n of s o l i d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
FluMizal ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 G e n e r a l .................................. 57
Pressure d r o p flm_mgh p a c k e d t u b e s , t u r b u l e n t ; Vesicular and nonvesieular particles .......... 57
flow .................................. 8 F l u i d i z a t i o n of n o n p o r o u s p a r t i c l e s . . . . . . . . . . 57
General corr,.lat loll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 D e s c r i p t i o n of f l u i d i z a t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Varial des . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Experimental details .................... 58
D e r i v a t i o n ,,f a w o r k i n g e q u a t i o n . . . . . . . . . . 8 Data and correlations ................... 59
Exl~erimem al w o r k . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Illustrations ............................ 59
Di~e~ls~ion - f res~llts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 M i n i m u m fluid v o i d a g e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 i*
.Nolrm~ral dl of p r e s - u r e - d r o p e q u a t ion . . . . . . 15 Correlation ............................ 61
]~ffeet of s~lrfacv rollb~llltess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 F l u i d i z a t i o n efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
17 Equations ............................. 7 :d~
Mawrial~ and data ...................... 64
Cc, rrelat ion .......................... 19 Discussion ............................. 64 • ;, ii!i
D]~eu<qolt of r e ~ l l t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Illustration ............................ 66
Pre, lieliou of v,,i,ls in p a c k e d t u b e s . . . . . . . . . . 22 F l u i d i z a t i o n of a n i r o n F i s c h e r - T r o p s c h c a t a -
.M~,Ih , . l s t,f e h a r ~ i n ~ v e s s e l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 l y s t ................................. 67
Varlal des ............................ 22 Material and operation .................. 67
Exlwrimemal detain .................... 22 Data and correlations .................... 69
C o l l l l I1 el l{ ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Application to process design ............. 71 G~L
G e n e r a l e , f i m a t i o n of v o i d s for r i n g s . . . . . . . 27 Sample calculations and comments ........ 75
W a l l , qt't'('t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 A b r i d g e d e q u a t i o n s for e s t i m a t i n g o n s e t of
L h n i t s of v o i d f m m t i , m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 fiuidization ........................... 76 t

Sad,lle~ ............................... 28 F l u i d i z a t i o u of m i x e d m a t e r i a l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
S a m 1de c'dm flat ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Stratification ........................... 78
C,-mq~arison I .,t w e e n 1o w e r p a c k i n g s . . . . . . . . . 29 Correlation ............................ 79
B e d - v h a r a e l tq'iz:tt i~~11f a c t o r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Solid-liquid systems ....................... 79
V,:,lmue a n d ,-urfact,-area c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . . . . 31 Experimental ........................... 79 t !:!i
l t . l a l ix',, l,at.king efficiency_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Conclusions ............................ 80
S[ U' ' v q . v i t v_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 D a t a i n t e r p r e t a t i o n on t h e b a s i s of t h e
C y l i n d e r s , q3hores, a n d ~ r a n u l e s . . . . . . . . . . 33 flocculation theory .................... 80
8111n|ll/lrv ................................ 35 F l u i d i z a t i o n of p o r o u s m a t e r i a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 il "]
Pressure d~:op t i m m ~ h p a c k e d t u b e s , v i s c o u s flow_ 37 G e n e r a l ................................ 83
Golieral e.rrelal itlll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Experimental data ...................... 85
D a t a a n d ~,q~lipltlelff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Correlation and comments ................ 86
C . r r e l a l i . u . f reslllls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 M i n i m u m fhfid v o i d a g e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Nom,,r~raph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 C h a n n e l i n g in f l u i d i z e d b e d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
(~el ii q'al izt,t I I a'~'.sure-, trop e q u a t ion . . . . . . . . . . 49 S u m m a r y ................................ 90
Tran.it h m a l range ..................... 49 S u m m a r y of d e s i g n e q u a t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
D i t h , r e n l ill e q u a t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Nomeneiature .............................. 93
-Nolnograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 A p p e n d i x .................................. 95
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ILLUSTRATIONS • . l[ t

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I. D i a g r a m of a p p a r a t u s for p r e s s u r e - d r o p s t u d i e s ................................................. 9
2. I'r~,-~ure dr,q, e o r r e e u , d to 40 p e r c e n t v o i d s vs. m o d i f i e d R e y n o l d s n u m b e r ( 2 - i n c h s t a n d a r d p a c k e d t u b e ) _
3. Pre.-sure d r o p c o r r e c t e d to 40 p e r c e n t v o i d s vs. m o d i f i e d R e y n o l d s n u m b e r (/~-ineh s t a n d a r d p a c k e d
10 'ii
: l're,~,-ur~ d r o p corri,eted to 40 p e r c e n t v o i d s vs. m o d i f i e d R e y n o l d s n u m b e r ( 1 - i n c h s t a n d a r d p a c k e d l;ube)_ 12
ft. Pr,,ssure d r o p of n i t r o g e n a t v a r i o u s t o t a l g a s p r e s s u r e s ( I - i n c h s t . a n d ~ r d p a c k e d t u b e ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7. P r e ; - u r e d r o p vs. g a s d e n s i t y ( 1 - i n c h s t a n d a r d p a c k e d t u b e , n i t r o g e n d a t a ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8. e2q,~, vs. c a s vi,~eo.ity for C O : a n d air ( 2 - i n c h s t a n d a r d p a c k e d t u b e ) ............................... 13 , 1~ 1
9. l:,'la~i,m,-hip I . , t w e e u p r e s s u r e d r o p a n d p a r t i c l e d i a m e t e r ........................................ 13 , 2" ,~
10. Frit,~i,m f a c t o r vs. m o d i f i e d t t e y n o l d s n u m b e r ................................................... 14
11. Pr,,~-.ure d r . p for ~tases in t u r b u l e n t flow t h r o u g h p a c k e d b e d s ..................................... 15
12. P r e s s u r e ,lrnp thr~,u~h c o m m e r c i a l p a c k i n g m a t e r i a l s ............................................. 17
13. D a t a of O m a n a n d W a t s o n ................................................................... 17
14. F r i e l i o n f . w t o r s for v a r i o u s m a t e r i a l s ............................................................ 19
III
 IV CO~TENTS

15. Variation,~ of.. friction, f a c t o r with Reynolds. n u m b e r for flow t h r o u g h e m p t y pipes of different degrees of Page
rou~hne.~.~ (according to Nikuradse) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "
r .~ D~ ........................................... 21
16. ~, oid,~ in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. -~, for smooth, uuiform spheres ........................................ 24
D~
17. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. D-t for smooth, mixed spheres .......................................... 24
D~
18. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. ~ for clay balls ..................................................... 24
Dp
19. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. D--t for s m o o t h cylinders ............................................... 24
D~
20. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. D-t for A l u n d u m cylinders ............................................. 25
D~
21. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. ~ for Aloxite granules ............................................... 25
D~
22. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. ~ for Fe30~ (iron F i s c h e r - T r o p s c h catalyst) granules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
D~
23. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. ~ for fused A h m d u m granules_ .......................................
25
D,
24. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. - ~ for Raschig rings .................................................. 25
D~
25. Voids in p a c k e d t u b e s vs. ~ for a v a r i e t y of materials ........................................... 26
26. Shape f a c t o r in relation to height: d i a m e t e r ratio for cylindrical bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
27. Surface areas a n d solid volumes for various tower packings in pipe of D r = 3 inches__
28. V o h u n e a n d area characteristics for various tower packings s u b j e c t to t u r b u l e n t f l o w _ - [ [ : : : . . . . . . . . . . 34
29. Do~ul flow of gases t h r o u g h s a n d beds ......................................................... .......... 34
30. Dowu flow gases t h r o u g h various materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
31. Pressure d r o p t h r o u g h r o u n d sand (counter-gravity flow) in 2~.'-inch t u b e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
32. *fessure qrop t h r o u g h s h a r p sands in 2 ~ - i n c h t u b e ( c o u n t e r - g r a v i t y f l o w ) _ - - - : : : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
33. * ressure a r o p t h r o u g h r o u n d a n d s h a r p sands in 4-inch t u b e ( c o u u t e r - g r a v i t v f l o w ) : : : - - - : . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3 L I ressure d r o p t h r o u g h m i x t u r e s of s a n d s ( c o u n t e r - g r a w t v flow) ................................ 39
:]5. Modified friction factors vs. modified Reynolds number_" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- 39
. . . . . . 43
:]6. D a t a on flow of w a t e r t h r o u g h sands, observed b y H a t c h a n d correlated b y m e a n s of e q u a t i o n 4-6_-_-.-_-- 44
37, Volume a n d a r e a characteristics for various tower packings subjee~ to l a m i n a r flow_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
38. Flow t h r o u g h m o v i n g beds; d a t a a n d correlation of Happel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _. . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
39. }tappel's d a t a correlated according to equation 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
40. Pressure d r o p t h r o u g h p a c k e d beds for fluids in streamline flow__ _ : ................. 47
4 1 . . M o d i f i e d friction factors vs. modified Reynolds n u m b e r ................................ ...............................
49
48

42. l're~sure drop for lamfilar, transitional, a n d t u r b u l e n t flow of air ~hrough p a c k i n g s . . . . . . [ _ : [ : :~:-_- : 50
43. G r a p h i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of the void function ................................................... 50
44. ( ' o r r e c t i o n factor for t r a n s i t i o n range___ .......................................................
51
45. Uniform r o u n d s a n d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46. t:,,iform r o u n d sands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 52
47. M i x t u r e s of r o u n d s a n d s ........................................................ :___-_:_:___:__ 53
48. Uuiform s h a r p sands . . . . . . . ~4
49. Uniform s h a r p s a n d s . . . . :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ................................. 55
50. O p e r a t h ~ sta~es of fluidized beds ............................................................. 56
57
51. Fluidization a p p a r a t u s ...................................................................... 58
52. Fluidization of r o u n d s a n d s in 2 ~ - i n c h u n i t . . . . . . . . . . - 59
53. I']u!d!zat!on of s h a r p s a n d s in 2a~-inch u n i t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~9
.54. l ' h u d l z a t m n of s h a r p s a n d s in 2~'..;-ineh u n i t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - ................ .......... 59
55. Fluidization of m i x t u r e s of r o u n d a n d s h a r p sands . . . . . . . . . . . . :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: " : - 2 2 59
56. Mi~,imum fluid voidage, ~ y , for r o u n d a n d s h a r p sands in r e l a t i o n ~o particle d i a m e t e r . . . . : _ _ _ : _ : . : _ _ 61
57. Fluidization of large, uniform, r o u n d sands in 2 ~ - i n c h unit . . . . . . 62
58. Flu~dizaUon of small, uniform, r o u n d sands in 2 ~ - i n c h unit .................................. 62
59. Fluidization of uniform s h a r p sands in 21~-inch u n i t . . . . . . . : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ....... :: 62
60. Fluidization of u n i f o r m r o u n d a n d s h a r p sands in 4-inch unit . . . . . . - ........... 62
t;1. Fhfidization of m i x t u r e s of s a n d s in 21fi-inch a n d 4-inch u n i t s . . . . . -:-_- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
62. Values of n, in relation to D , for sands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 63
63. Fluidization a n d expansion lines of a typical small sand ................................. ::__: .... 63
64. S l u ~ i n ~ p o i n t s i~, 2!~.-ineh u n i t . . . . . . _"..................................... - ................... 65
65. Fluidization effieiencies for r o u n d a n d s h a r p sands ................................... 66
~;6. Weight-size d i s t r i b u t i o n of iron Fischer-Tropsch c a t a l y s t beds investigated_- . . . . . . . : - - - : :__ : : : i _ _ _ 67
67. Uniform azJd nfixcd iron catalysts ............................................................. 68
68. M i n i m u m fluid voidage ~ - for sand a n d iron F i s c h e r - T r o p s c h c a t a l y s t in relation to p a r t i c l e diameter__ 69
69. F r i c t i o n - f a c t o r plot for various materials___ ....................................................
69
70. Pressure drop in relatiou to mass velocity for fluidization of iron F i s c h e r - T r o p s e h c a t a l y s t . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
71. Fhfidization of iron F i s c h e r - T r o p s c h catalyst .................................................... 70
72. V-dues of n, in relation to Dv for sands an'd iron Fischer-Tropsch c a t a h ' s t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
73. F l u i d i z a t i o n efficiencies in relation to particle d i a m e t e r calculated fo~: bed-expansion r a t i o s 1.05. 1.1'5,
a n d 1.25___ - __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
70

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CONTENTS

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76. particle diameter D~ vs. r e a c t o r . d i a m e t e r Dt for a. space velocity" of 3.00 and ~ r i o u s recycle rat!os:7--- " 74
7~. Fl~idizatiot~ efficiency, E~b, a n a oect-expansmn farm, t,, vs. reactor ommeter, D~, ~or a space veloc.]tv oI -,; J(
300 and various ~ecycle ratios ............................................................... 74 ~L'f
77. ~D,.o.r vs. D~ for t h e iron F i s c h e r - T r o p s c h catalyst. (Shape factor >,=1.73) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Graphical solution for expansion of iron F i s c h e r - T r o p s c h catalyst bed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
78. 77
79. Constant C in relation to particle d i a m e t e r D . ..................................................
80..Mi~Jimum fluidization mass velocities observed and calculated by Logwinuk and c o m p a r e d w i t h equa-
tion 56 ..................................................................... ~. . . . . . . . . . . 77
81. Fluidization of mixed beds .................................................................... 79 :.,. ~/,
82. Fluidization of mixed beds .................................................................... 79 i * F.

93. E.~pansion in liquid m e d i u m s .................................................................. 80 ' , )

84. Correlation of literature d a t a ................................................................. 81
85. Calculated fluidization efficiencies a n d fluidization work for various mass velocities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 I '
$6. Data of Wilhelm a n d I~:wauk a n d L. P. H a t c h .................................................. 82
$7. Modified friction factor vs. modified R e y n o l d s n u m b e r for d a t a of Wilhehn and ]~:wauk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
88. Close cuts and mixtures of a n t h r a c i t e .......................................................... 84
89. Weight-size distributions of beds i n v e s t i g a t e d ................................................... 85
90. Anthracite-fluidization d a t a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . = ................... 85
91. Effective voidage in a n t h r a c i t e b e d s ...........................................................
.....
86
87 ' ..::)},
92. Correlation of a n t h r a c i t e d a t a . . . . . . =..................................................... 87
93. Values of m in relation to D~ for v a r m u s materials ...............................................
94. Minimum fluid voidage, ~,~r, for various materials in relation to effective particle d i a m e t e r D~ . . . . . . . . . 87 ¢~J;fll
95. Types of channeling in fluidized b e d s .......................................................... 88
96. P~essure-drop curves for channeling b e d s ....................................................... 89
97. Typical pressure drop vs. m a s s flow relations in channeling solids .................................. 89
08. Ci~anneling factors in relation to effective particle diameter for a variety of ~.naterials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
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99. Cham~elin~ factor :~4 vs. ~ for various materials ................................................

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FLUID FLOW THROUGH PACKED AND FLUIDIZED I,

SYSTEMS
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by

M. Leva, ~ M. Weintraub, ~ M. Grummer, e M . P o l l c h i l ~ , ~ a n d H . t-I. S t o r c h s

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Introduction II '} " ~'

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ITH the development of new processes for 100 percent,. Because new processes, espe-
W the production of s}mthetic liquid fuels, an
extensive literature search was undertaken
cially more recent modifications of the original
Fischer-Tropsch process, must compete with
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to uncover fundamental relationships between old, firmly established processes on the basis of
fluid and heat flows and the operating variables unit, product cost, the pressure-drop correlations
of new types of converters. Examination of in the literature were considered to be too in-
published correlations revealed that consider- accurate for use in calculating the energy re- T E~
able uncertaintv existed in the correlation of quired to pass fluids tlu'ough packed beds.
the operating variables of such equipment with The following study was begun in 1946 to
the pressure ~lrops which could be expected develop correlations that ~ ould be suitable for
tlu'ough pack¢ d and fluidized systems; correla- the design of new equipment in which fluids
tions proposed ill the literature differed from are brought into contact with granular ma-
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each other frequently by as much as 75 to terials. To arrive at general relationships,
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systems were chosen that did not involve
~~:ork on manuscript completed .November 28, 5950:. . . . .
l'llomi(.:ll engine,ft. R~,search and Developmen~ ~ranen, umee oi
chemical reactions, and a particular effort was
~}'nthc|ic Liquid Fm,ls. U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of made to give the correlations only in terms of
~llrlos, ~ru('t'IOll, I~l.
Cifief Rese rot a ~4 Development Branch, Office of Synethetio quantities that are ordinarily available from
Lfqut4 Fuels, U. S. D e p a r t m e n t of the Tnterior, Bureau of 5fines, Bruce-
ton, Pa. general process and design specifications.
1
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 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .
The authors are grateful to their associates
in the Bureau of Mines fo," indispensable help The authors are grateful also for the
during the investigations and construction and assistance given by W. T. :Rood .,,,1 -r ~ge.neral.
[lssembly of the equipment.. They take Darticu- ot the Coal Research Section-."a~]~',°2 r. ~lcLa,
ar pleasure in acknowledging the interest. °~lt~aeoGmaeS.S~mthes~s Sechon., for making ~.~di
cooperation, and constructive suo'~estions " powders, ctata, on no~ of oils through catMysi"
M. A. Elliott, E. L. Clark, J. It. Crowell, an°c~
E. It. Amick, Jr. The authors want to thank A. O. 0man and
Editorial assistance was rendered bv Xorma K. M. Watson, of the University of Wisconsin,
Golumbic and R. C. Grass.
Construction details pertaining to the various for having supplied typical pieces of packing
units were supervised by W. E. Miller, W. H. materials for examination of surface roughness;
Chemical Engineering Progress for permissidn
n~;~l~a~s,~nd W i L e ~ a u t h , Tt}e graphs were to copy various figures and parts of the text
. • • ~ na o. j. Vidosh, and the published previously; and Inez G. BOOher,
r reproductions by G. L. I-Ienneman of the
Graphic bervices Section. Myrtle R. Lee, and Sophie Radosevich for
J 2 typing the manuscript.

ri:I
 .,i

LITERATURE SURVEY ", i?

• :1!

FLUID FLOW THROUGH PACKED BEDS Muskat and Botset s obtained data on the
flow of air through glass beads, sands, and , ', 7~
Studies of fluid flow through beds of solids sandstones which they correlated as
have been rt'l)orted in such diversified journals A P = K ( p u ) a/4.
us those in lhe fiehls of petroleum product!on,
s:initary engineering, chemical engineering, Schoenborn and Dougherty g added to the
physics, hydrodynamics, mechanical engineer- literature by presenting in graphical form their
hi,g, physi/'al (.h~,mistry, and geophysics. The data on the flow of air, water, and oil through
wide variety of scientific interests involved beds of various commercial ring and saddle
has frequenily,~,~:(.~used an investigator to study packings.
the dt'cct of one variable with Complete dis- White ~° recognized t h a t the inconsistent
regard for the constancy of another condition exponents in the relation between AP and u or
which an investigator in another field had G, expressed in the above references, were due
slto~ql to t)e important. to the fact that the exponent varied with
In 1S56, D'Arcy ~ reported the proportion-
ality between pressure drop per unit length of a
Reynolds number, nluch as it does for flow
th~:ough empty pipes. He a t t e m p t e d to
I' Id'!.:':
,.j

orous bed and ihe flow of water tln'ough it. correlate data of other investigators for ring-
~ n 1863, Dupuit ~ suggested that the apparent and saddle-packed beds by plotting J vs. Re,
liquid wloeity based on the cross section of the w h e r e / i s defned by the equation • .':.'i.z!
empty tube nmst be Jess than the actual AP 2 f pu°'F,
velocity in the pores. If the pore space in the L gDv
bed is considered to be evenly distributed, the
porosity of a layer of infinitesimal thickness F~ is an empirical correction factor dependent
normal to the direction of flow will be equal to on particle size. The curves indicated fairly , :i '5
the porosity. & of the bed. Dupuit, therefore, good correlation for individual packings, b u t
revised the D'Arcy equation to read the values of f for saddles were two to tlu-ee
times the values for rings at the same Reynolds
u=~KAP/L. numb ers.
Fancher andLewis n also evaiuatedfi Their I ,J,'-
Subsequent investigators ignored this porosity data for flow of air, water, and crude petroleum
concept for a number of years. through beds of sands, sandstones, and lead
Von Emersleben ~ derived the D'Arcy equa- shot were principally in the viscous range, as
tion from fundamental hydrodynamic prin- shown by the linearity of their log-log curves )L
ciples. for:
t'' I
",.-- q
Arnould's ; data on air flow through beds of f__APD~g~=C.
rings, spirals, and triangles led to the following -- 2pLu ~- Re
correlation :
U varied with the nature of the paeldng. The
q=O.O2$g'~ AP/v, value of D~, used by Faneher and Lewis, was a I :~i'~
where q=air flow, m?/sec. weight-mean diameter *)~

AP=pressure drop, ram. of H.,O Dv=[Zw~(D~)a] ~/~.

p = air density, k g . / m ) Allen xo_obtained similar relationships for the
p~ .D'Arey, H. P. G. Les Fontaines Publique de la Ville de Dijon: flow of air, naphtha, and mineral oil through
. ~uit. A. J.. ~:tu,les Theoretiques et Practiques sur le Mouvement Schoenborn, E. M., and Dougherty, W. 3"., Pressure Drop and
tlt~$~lllX: Paris. 1S6:L Flooding Velocity in Pocked Towers with Viscous Liquids: Trans. Am. .. p • .~)1%
X?)n Emersl,.ben Otto, Das Dare.vsehc Filtergesetz: Phys~kal. Ze~t- Inst. Chem. En~.. vol. 40, 1944, pp. 31-77.
se~trlfl, vol. 2tl. 192,5. pp. ¢g]1-610. l0 White, A. M., Pressure Drop and Loading Velocities in Packed
r,~Arll~uld. J., Corps de Remplissage et de Garnissage et Perte de Towers: Trans. Am. Inst. Chem. Eng., vol. 31, 1935, pp. 3~-408.
•-,arge Cre~r~ p i r Lt.ur Emldh-e~" Jour Chinfie Ind vol 21 1929, n Fancher, O. H., and Lewis, 5. A., Flow of SimpleFluids Through
PP. 47,~-4So - , ., . . . . , • , Porous Materials: Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 25, 1933, pp. l l ~ - i l ~ 7 .
p~ .M.usk~a',M., and Botset, If. G., Flow of Gas Through Porous Media: ~-" Allen, It. V., Pressure Drop for Flow Through Beds of Granular
ayslcs, vol. 1, 1931, pp. 27--34. Absorbents: Petroh Refiner, vol. 23, 1944, pp. 247-252.
', ¢
3
' 1¢!
 4 FLUID FLOW TI-IROUGI-I P A C K E D AND FLUIDIZED SYSTE,AIS

beds of granu/ar absorbents (bauxite and fuller's

I !
earth) although he used a reciprocal-volume
mean diameter:
&P ./ u ~- \~

where 1 and n are functions of the packing a~id~

/Dx,,

D -F 1 7~ A and m are functions of both Packing aiid:

~ - L ~ J "
Reynolds number. Theft" experimental limits:
The limits of Allen's data were: and constants are given in table A. •
Gamson, Thodos, and Hougen ~ plotted theh,
0.05<Re<500
observed values of / vs. Re for air flow OVer-we(
and dt3- spheres and cylinders, where they deci
fined
7</<10~
f "~PD~,g¢p
0.0008 f t . < D ~ (bauxite)<0.0091 ft. 2LG~

0.0011 ft. <~ D~ ( f a i l e r ' s e a r t h ) < 0 . 0 0 9 6 ft. R e = D~,G/t~. "

For cylinders,
b e F : j j i a a n d Uc.hida '~ " passed gases through
oro~en nmestone, lead shot, and Ras- D,=~/doho+ U2d/-. ,
chig rin~s and expressed theft" results in the form
of the equation: They obtained separate curves for wet and dry
packings.
TABLE A.--Constants of Uchida and Fujita ~a 14

Packing :
Flow.
Broken lime- L e a d s h o t 1.8 R a s c h i g rings
stone 5 ram.
mm.<D,<4.4 5 mm.<Dp~10~.
<D,<10 mm. him. mm.
! I

I: 10<Re<30 ..............................................

l ----1.15
A----10,600
m = -- 0.87
A=2,400
m=0.86
l =1.05
A=350
m= --0.64
1 =0.94 ,
30< R~.< I 0G..............................................n ----- - 0 . 3 0 n =0.0 n --0.0
A---- 10,600 A=520 A = 145
m = -- 0 . 8 7 m= --0.47
l ----1.15 m = - - 0.38
l = 1.05 l =0.94
t00<Re< 1,0O~_ n =--0.30 n --0.0
......................................... n =0.0
A=3,670 A----520 A---51
i m = - - 0.64 m = - - 0.47
l =1.15 m= --0.16
l =1.05 l -----0.94
n -- --0.30 n =0.0 n =0.0

In 1932, Chalmers, Taliaferro, and Rawlins ~6

I, introduced the porosity concept into their defi- In 1934, Ohilton and Oolburn ~9 had corre-.
nition of friction factorfi lated their data for gas flow thcough packed
tubes with a so-called "wall-effect factor, A/',
f APD~go~. which, however, implicitly compensated to a
plu s certain degree for porosity as well as the effect
of the D~/D, ratio,
['his concept, which had been developed by a P 2fa2At.
.DupuitY had also been used by Boussinesq ~s L --go D~p
m a theoretical derivation of formulas similar
to those of D'Arcy. f is expressed graphically as a function of Re,
and A~ is expressed graphicalh- as a flmction of
T la Uchida, S.: a n d Fujita, S., Pressure Drop Through Dr a -
owt,rs: ~oc. cnem. lnd (Japan) vol 37 1934 rm vo4I~ -.o~ y P eked D/D.
Tmv,r~.t~, S;4,:md Uehlda, S., Pressure Drop Through D r - Pa -
- ~ ( , ; - - ~,oc. ~aem. ma. (Japan) vol 37 1934 791B - :~ eked Bakhmeteff and Feodoroff ~0 defined / by
. " ,-,amson . . It'. Thodos O ' a n d H'Ou~e~pp" .t ~ 9 . 4 B . - the earlier convention
.~tomontum Transfer m the Flow of Oases Through Granu|ar Solids:
Tr~m~: .~m. Inst. Chem. Eng., vol. 39, 1943, Pl). 1-35 f _=2g~PD~
el, '" t. n$almers,,l., Tafiaferro, D. B , and Rawlins, E. L. Flow of. "
:b ~a:~ TiEqugh Porous 3fedia: Trims A.m Inst lt{in 'nna xr~+i i r a n d pLu °-
re, rrr{!, l)iv., vol. 98, 1932, pp. 375--40{i." . . . . . . . . . . . . . ng.,
;", ~'oOrkienit~'fdirJfootnote 5, p. 3. zgChikon, T. ]:r., and Colburn, A. P,, Pressure Drop in Packed Tubes:
- s e.I. ,~l. a.. On the Theory of the Transmission of Oa Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 23, 19.31, pp. 913-931.
Across Porous -XIedla: Compt. Rend., vol. 159, 1914, pp. 390, 519. ses :o Bakhmeteff, B. A., and Feodoroff, N. V. Flow Through Gramflar
.'t[edia: .,Tour. Appl. ~[eeh., vol. 4, 1937, pp. A97-A104.

7¢
 [ '~, I

LITERATURE SURVEY

but ,.,-,rrelated the values o f f they obtained for the ratio of the surface of a sphere having the
as ttow tllrough beds of lead shot by plotting same volume of the particle to the actual sur-
~ against Re and ~. For laminar flow, they ob- face of the particle. Zeisberg. ~ had published
pressure-drop data for varmus commerciM
I T, ~.

tained
. f = 7 1 0 / R e ~ ~n types of pacldng. Chilton ~ converted these .) i
data, as well as the d a ta of White,
• ~s to values
and for turbulent flow of friction factors for the various shapes for use
in his previously published ~0 equation.
f = 2 4 . 2 / ( Re ) o.2~3. Blake ~0 correlated dat~ on glass cylinders, ! , t

Raschig rings, and crushed pumice b y a~ linear

For viscous flow of gases and liquids through plot on log-log coordh~ates of 2 J"

porous earbon, Hatfield ~1found that. his friction A p p(~3 G

factors in the ilow range 10-~<Re<10 ~could be LGsS v s . ;,-~,
linearly cor,'elated with the Reynolds number ' iti:
by detining where S is the value of surfP, ce area of pacldng
f APDvg~ ~ per unit volume of packed tube.
. L.~,
= ff-d-£u Kozeny ~1 showed that this value of S repre-
sented a function of diameter and shape of
It can be seen that this definition is identical the channel. He derived Blake's equation by
with that proposed by Chalmers et a l? ~ assuming that the granular bed was equivalent i i:{
.Meyer and Work .23 related the bed voidage to a group of similar channels whose tota.1
for a given packing to some value ~= repre- internal surface and vohune were equal to the
senting the loosest packing possible for the particle surface and pore volume; that is, the
specitied material. They defined mean hyd[a.ulic radius of the channel was ~/S. , d!i
• . J
Furnas ~" ~3 reported on the effect of a large •, i ' J
D~=ZwiDi number of variables. However, he expressed
his da~ta in the form l
and reported
~P K~t(67-8) - = A G ~,

where A and B were complex functions of par-

where K-----47.5 for crushed rock and 33.3 for ticle size, bed porosity, and the gas properties
lead shot. temperature, viscosity, density, and molecular
Happel '~ correlated f vs. Re, where ~ was a weight.
function of the rdative',,1solids volmne (i--~): From their studies of spherical lead shot of
various sizes in various-diameter tubes, Burke ) ,,

f= A P D~gep •
and Phnmner 3~ concluded that pressure drop
LG~(1--8) ~ is u function of ~ modified Reynolds number
Up
D~ wo~ defined as ~-~, which is equivalent to
1
GAy GAy(I--8). Ap Kpu~S ['uS'h~-,, i j . :'

D~

{appe! )reported that for the laminar range where ~, is a, function of the Reynolds number.
- 1 0 3 / / e and for the turbulent range.I=207/ Carman 3~3~ correlated the pressure-drop
(Re)r).<~. data of other authors by the following dimen-
siona.lly homogeneous formula: , ** i)., I
Just as porosity has been handled b y various -l' i
n~ estlgators m various ways--including periods Zc~sberg, F. C., T h e Resistance of Absorption T o w e r P a c k i n g to
Gas Flow: Trans, A m . Inst. C h e m . Eng., vol. 12, pt. I I , 1919 pp. 231-237. , i
of complete neglect--so ~{:as the shape of the
Pa~tit
fl ' :h , treated
, -
as a factor hffluencing fluid
~; Chilton, T. H., The Scence of Petroleum: Oxford University Press,
London, 1938, pp. 2211-2222. i "[!i,
|t
s See work cited in footnote 10, p. 3.
OW. ~ See work cited in footnote 19, p. 4. 'i%)
~0Blake, F. C., The Resistance of Packing to Fluid Flow: Trans. Am. J
• In 1934, Wadell ~ defined a. shape factor for Inst. Chem. Eng.. vol. 14. 1922, pp. 415-421.
st Kozeny, Y., Ber. WiSh. Akad., vol, 13.~a, 1927, pp. 271-278.
~ e l e s falling freely through fluids as ~ Furnas, C. C., Grading Aggregates: Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. o.3, 1931,
pp~ 1052-1058.
Che.Ialfi"!'lo AI. R., P l u m Flow T l m , u g h Porous Carbon: Ind. Eng. Furnas, C. C., The Flow of Gases Through Beds of Broken Solids:
Bureau of -Arines Tech. P a p e r 307, 1929, 144 pp.
-)":''-,-
a ' ) ~ e t ' l l n f o , , ) n o t ~ l (,) . ',p. 4. ~ Burke, S. P., and P l u m m e r , W. B., Gas F l o w T h r o u g h Packed
tac~'¢!~'-x,'r:.}%. G . , a n d Work, L. T., Flow of Fluids T h r o u g h Beds of Columns: Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 20, 1925, pp. 119g-1200.
,. ~"~ ~')t~,~: Trans. A m . Inst. Chem E n g , vol. 33, 1937 .13-33. ~ Carman, P. C., The Determination of the Specific Surface of Pow-
IleU.ll~.la~l~'l,J., Pressure Drop Due to Vapor Flow ThrouPg~ -Afoving ders. I and I I : Your• See. C h e m . I n d . (London), vol. 57, 1938, pp. 225- *.4'1,
:~ :%~-~:~';:5!*g. Ch~sn., vol. 41, 1949, pp. 1161-1174. 234; vol. 58, 1939, pp. 1-7.
lear i~(J~;l).,3 "he t:oelllcient ofResistancefor SolidsofVariousShapes: ~ Carman, P. C., Fluid Flow Through Granular Beds: Trans. Inst.
• -.m~,mi *nst., vo]. 217, 1.~34, pp. 459-470. Chem. Eng. (London), vol. 15, 1937, pp. 150-166.
,>t i
'" ~'i]~
 FLUID FLOW TI-IROUGI-I P A C K E D A_N'D F L U I D I Z E D SYSTE3IS

--Zp---~'~l ~ b \ p l~/' The exponents, n and m, are dependent oa

i , i particle shape and bed porosity and are pre.
where SI=S+4/D, C-----a constant dependent sented as experimentally derived curves.
on particle shape.
1 i For solid spheres and saddles, 0=0.4.
Other references pertinent to the subject of
fluid flow through packed beds may be f.... ~ ""
For ring packings C = 1.0. the work of other investigat(]rs.4~-~ ~ u ~a
Hatch 37 developed a dimensionally homoge-
neous equation for pressure drop in pacl<ed
4z Bath, W. k . , and Hougen, O. k . , Flooding Velocities in Packed
tubes which also applies to expanded beds of Columns: Trans. Am. Inst Chem E n g , vol 40 1944
~ B a r t c l l F E The p " .'. • , Pp. 29-49.
sands (200-mesh to 20-mesh) undeF counter- cyamde • 5Iembranes:
, • ., J'our ermcabihtv
Ph~'s C a ' e r a of Porcclam and Copper Pe ITS.
v n ! 1.x , r ~ , , . . . . . . .
! "o gravity flow of water. 42 Bartcll F E , Pore Diameters ~¢7~':2.'Y..': ~'~' 1~;~. uP. oo~'-~74.
Chem., voi: 16, 1912, pp. 318-335. ~, ~amo~,v .,Lemoranes: J'our. Phys.
44 Bartell, p . E., and Ostcrhof, H. J'.. The Pore Size of Compressed '
Carbon a n d Silica hlembrancs. J'our P h y s Chem vol 3" ~,~o
1553-1558. " " " ", • -, -~o, pp
T=E: u - t.~';,) ~ 45 Berg, C Fawcett, p N , a n d Dhondt, R O., Channehn E
Reactor~, ofa Commerclal - "Hydroformer:
" Chem• Eng. P r o g ,"~gl ff3e.el~la
where PP. 713-730. • • . 947,
B46 Cape ll, (]., Amero,.R C., a n d ~[oore, 5. W., ,-\-e~ Data on Activated
auxltc Jgesiccants: Chem. hIet. E n g vol 50 J'ul 1943
h . ^~7^Donat, 5 , The Porositv of Sand: ~V~ser'-kra'f~- ~'~'~'~_,~'PP:107-110.
~vz% pp. 225-2_'29. - . . . . . ~ov~ tten, voI. 24,
[=resistance/length of bed (no dimension)
4s Egolf, G. B., and hlcCabe, W. L., Rate of Sedimentation of Ploeeu.
lated Particles: Trans. Am. Inst. Chem Eng vol 33 19
¢' Fair (3- 1~I and . . . . . , 37, pp 620-642
k-----a c o e f f i c i e n t ~ ,_ • ~ Hatch, L. P., The Streamhne Flow of Water
"lnrough
1557. ~and: Jour Am. Water Works Assoe,' vol . -"5, 1933, pp . .~. .,. . .
n=state of flow factor. 6°Pehling, R., Der Striimtmgswiderstand Ruhender Sohiittangen.
Feuerungsteehnik, vol. 27 1939, pp. 33-4,].
s~ (]raton, L. C., and Fraser, H. J'., Systematic Packing of Spheres: '
For laminar flow, n = 1. For turbulent /lo~% ;)'our. Geol., vol. 43, 1935, pp. 785-909.
~2 (]ivan, C. V., Flow of Water Through Granular *~Iaterials: Trans.
Am. (]eophys. "Union vol. 15, 1934, p. 57".
Groan and Watson ~s correlated their pres- 18~3.tlaneock, R T., ]"nterstitial Plow: .'Xlin b r a g , vol 67 194° pp 179-
sure-drop data in the turbulent flow range of u Heywood, H., Numerical Definitions of Particle Size and Shape:
air flow through (dense and loose-packed) beds
of 0.267-inch celite c~linders, 0.385-inch clay
Raschig rings, 0.5-inch clay Bed saddles,
ii 0.2166-inch celite spheres, and 0.1875-inch
5[gO granules, in a 4-inch standard pipe, with
the following equation:
I~ i
Ap=2fLG~'_ S.
gcp~! .7

Their data covered a flo~r region of 20<Re~ * •

1,200, where Re is defined as
7, 1934, pp. 339-354.
i
,
G ~4Newton, R. H., D u n h a m , O. S., and Simpson, T. P., The T. C. C.
S~ :Process for blotor Gasoline Production: Trans. Am. Inst. Chem. Eng.,
vol. 41, 1945, DD. 215-232
~ Rose, H : E . , The "~'.aws of the Flow of Fluids Through :Beds of
Bro~rnell and Katz ~9 correlated pressure- (]ranular ~raterials: Proc. Inst. 1W:eeh. Eng., vol. 153, 1945, pp. 141, 148,
and 154.

?,
drop data of other investigators with their own •a Sau~ders, D. A., and Ford, H., Heat Transfer in the Flow of Gas
T h r o u g h a :Bed of Solid Particles: Jour. Iron and Steel Inst., voL 141,
data on air flow through 65- to 80-mesh salt 1940, up. 138-144.
beds by means of the following dimensionally ~ S~crwood, T. ~ . , Pressure Drop Through Packings. In Absorphon
and Extraction: ~IeOraw Hill Publ shing G o , I n c , ~ e w York, 1937,
homogeneous equation: pp. 138-144. ' "
~ 8chrievcr, W., :Passage of a (]as-Free Liquid Through Spherical-
(]rained Sand: Trans. Am. Inst. hIin. and 5Iet. Eng. vol. 86, 1930, pP.
~ , p = f Lu2p . 329-336.
2g~D,~'*

The factor 'if" may be obtained from the

curves of 5{oody 40 for flow through empty
pipes when the Reynolds number is defined as
Re=D~,._.__
G.
,uy'
"-- ' e'Size: Physics, vol. 7, 193¢,,'pp. 9-14
ar Hatch, L. P., Flow of Fluids Through Granular ~aterials: Trans. _~Tr_~m~er, p.~., ~ d Dodge, B. F., Designof mbbou-Pa~kedEx-
Am. Geophys. Union, vol. 24, 1943, pp. 537-547 augers: u;nem. Y.;ug. i'rog., voL 43 1947. pp. 75-84.
.J~ Groan, O . A . , a n d Watson, K. hi., Pressure Drop in Granular B : ~Tr ~'ee~dman, J'. A., and Dodge, B.'F., Rectification of Liquid Air in a
~.at:. I-'etrol. brews, vol. 36, 1944, pp. R795-802. eds x-~c~e~ ~o~umn: J.a~. ~ng.. Chem., vol. 39, 1947, pp. 732-744.
-- or~, ~. 'z., ann Konler, A. S., The Sedimentation of SuspensionS:
• .trans. Am. Lust. Chem• Eng., vol. 36, 1940. pp. 701-719.
O • s: ' .'"
o . . -~. . ' :: -,--'_~
* , ~;a~Za..k-'h-ar.°v'~
R" 4 - and Frost, .:.~.y . , Pressure Drop Through GranUlar "
~,a~ m ~onrac~ ~'ac~:cu Tuoes" ~ull k c a d ScI, U S S. 14.,
Classc, Sci. Teeh., 1946, pp. 421-441.
 1 ~ I~
. ! ~:~t ~

LITE RATURE SURVEY 7

FLUIDIZATION Logwinuk ~s carried out an exienslve s t u d y

of fluid and heat flow in which air, carbon
Despite a numlwr of years of commercial ap- dioxide, and helium were used to fluidize a
plication of fluidizatio~( techniques, no quanti- variety of solids• The basic similarity be-
tative data appeared in the literature prior to tween flow through fixed and fluidized beds was .|
1947. stressed b y Ergun and Orning, ~9 and ~ 2-term
A nulnlwr of articles have appeared in which dat~ correlation was proposed. Lewis et al. 1
.~,.ious elualitative aspects of fluidizatiou are investigated both batch and continuous fluid-
i'~'~:l~s~ed: part ieularly as applicable to catalytic ization of glass spheres of various sizes• The
c-.~t.kin¢~ so-~,s and other functions in the pe- Stormer viscosity of aerated beds was measured
troh, lnn industry .~ and analyzed b y 5[atheson .oet al., and Beck 3 t iii,
Kite and Roberts .7 discuss the application of reported on the use of stirrers and baffles as I
fluitlizlttion to the process of calchmtion of lime- aids to fluidization. tit

stone. B y means of temperature lneasurements and

A number of articles have appeared on tracer gas, Gillilaud and 5[ason ~ studied the
roeesses similar to fluidization, such as the mixinu and back mixing of both the solids and
~ ackwashing of water filtration sand beds *s gases ~n small-diametel: fluidized beds. 5[eiss-
and solids elutriation with liquids or gases, s9-93 ner and h[icldey ~ revealed that fluidized beds
Parent, Yagol, and Steiner 94 discussed possess ~ definite cap~city for filtering fine ?~
number of qualitative aspects of fluidization mists and dusts.
desiun and reported that the pressure drop A number of additional papers ~-1~ have
. .
across a fluldlzed l)e d was approximately equal appeared describing the application of fiuidiza-
to the weight of the solids per unit cross section tion to more processes, and ~ few other recen~
of the bed. papers 1~-1~ have added to the literature on the
Wilhehn and K w a u k 9~ presented some fun- associated subjects of ~ttrition, erosion, and
danlental data that were subsequently discussed solids flow.
by 5terse? ~ The two papers are treated in
more detail in a subsequent sectionY 9BLogwinuk, A. I~., Ph. ]9. Thesis: Case Institute of Teehnolo.~',
In 1948 and 1949, a number of papers ap- August 1945.
~SErgun, S., and Orning, k . A., Fluid Flow Through Randomly
~i t i~
peared on various restricted bu~ important Packed Columns and Fluidized Beds: Ind. Eng. Chem., eel. il, 1949,
pp. 1179-1184.
topics• 1 Lewis, \V. K., Giniland, E. R., and Bauer, W. C., Characteristics of
:Fluidized Particles: Ind. Eng. Chem., eel. 41, 1949, pp. 1104-1117.
2 5fatheson, G. L.. Herbst W. A., and Holt, P. H., Charaete'istics of
~ Thc,ma.% C. L., Auderson, N. K., Beeker, ~l'. A., and 5IcAfee, I., :Fluid-Solid Systems Ind Eng. Chem., eel. 41, 1949, pp. 1099-1104.
Crack ~ ~ with C lt:lvsts Proe Am. Petr~)l Inst. vol. 24, see. 3 1943 Beck. R. A.. Evaluation of Fluid Catalyst. Laboratory Scale: Ind.
t"P; :.',-~,2. :Eng. Chem., eel. 41, 1949. pp. 1242-1243.
Wk.kham. It. P...Xteehanism of Flow in Fluid-Catalyst Cracking: Gilliland, E. R., and .Alison, E. A., Gas and Solid .AIixing in Fluid- i I.'
Pert,1. Rvfin, r v,d. 24. July 19t5, pp. 2:3-2;tL ized Beds: Ind. Eng. Chem., eel. 41, 1949, pp. 1191-1196.
tt Carlemith ' L E an 1 :[¢huson, F. B , Pilot-Plant Development of .AIeissner, H. P., and .-Xfwkley, H• S., Removal of .-XIists and Dusts • I%
Fluid C~uahlic Cra(,k-ing: Ind. Eng. Chenl., eel. 37. 1945, pp. 451-455. from Air b.v Beds of Fluidized Solids: Ind. Eng. Chem., eel. 41. 19-19,
t~ .Murphr~,e E.V.. ,.t al.. Improved Fluid Process for Catalytic Crack-
Ing:Tr;in¢ ~m In~t Chem. En% v,,l. 41, 1945, pp. ]9-33. pp. 1238-1242.
Nieholson E . VV., .Afoise, Y. E., and ttardv, R. L., Fluidized-Solids
a Tht,ni;~.~. C: I.J. :.n 1 Itr,ekst~a', J., Fluid zcd Fixed Bed: Ind Eng. Pilot Plants: 'Ind. Eng. Chem., eel. 40, 194~, liP. 2033-.'2039
CIlt,~t,. "col.:~7. 1:~3. lq*. 3;42-:-:34. Lewis W. If., Gilliland, E . R., and Reed, W. A., Reaction of 5[eth-
~t Murphre,,. E. V.. G,dir. E. ft., and ]Caulakis. A. F., The Fluids- (
ane with'Copper Oxide in a Fluidized Bed: Ind. Eng. Chem., eel. 41, Ib
.olids Technique-- ~,l,l,]ieat~on~ in the Petroleum In,austry: Jour..tnsL
Petr,l., vol. 33, 1:,47. l, '. v~,:;-~:21). . . 1949, pp• 1227-1~7.
Lewis W K., Gilliland, E . R., and McBride, O. T., J'r., Gasification
t~ E~Io L G.. Le 6• "uek uff Catalytique: Chimie et Industrm, eel. 09, of Carbon b y Carbon Dioxide in a Fluidized Bed Ind. Eng. c n c m . ,
194S, I)P. 121-127. eel. 41, 1949, pp. 1213-1226. ° . ',i ~
t' Kiw, R. P.. and R(,bt,rts, E. ft.: Chem. Eng., vol. 54, .-'X'o.12, Dee. Singh &. D. and I.:ane, L. $., Fluid Devolatilization of Coal for
1947, pp. 112-115. Power-Pi'ant Pr:aetiee: Trans. Am. Soc..Xfech. Eng., eel. 70, 1948, pp.
~Slh~tch, L. P.. Fh,w Tlmmgh Granular 51:edia: Trans. Am. ~oc.
Xfech. [.:n~:.. vul. c2. lOl,. pp..killS-All2. . . 957-964.
t~.M:aHn, I'L, I{v~varehes ,)I1 the Theory of Free Grinding: Trans. ~oParry, V. F.,*Ooodman, I. B., and Wa-.ner, E. 0., i)ryiug Low-
Rank Coals in the Entrained and Fluidized State: .Alining Eng., eel. 1,
Cera~iiie Foe.. eel. 2,;. lq2d-7, pp. 21-33. see. 3, April 1949,~)p. 95-95.
v Cr~mtl,. W., Pn,.mn;div Transport of Plants: Chem. Ind. (London), u Dimitri 5[ S..Tongedyk, R. P. m d Low s H. C., Distillation of
eel. tt, 1,~25.pp. 2~ff'l'-xl3T. Fluidized Hftrd `iVo,d: Chem. Eu,.'., eel. 55, No. 12, 1948, pp. 124-125. . : °.
*! B t'k ~. S. P. an 1 Plumnwr. "iX'.B , Suspension of-AIae~ooseopomPar- ~oWall, C..1., and Ash, `iV. J., Fluid-Solid Air Sizer and Dryer: Ind.
tides i*t a Turbulent (.las ,~tl'eam: In,t. Eng. Chem., e e l . . 0 , 19_8, pp. Eng. Chem., eel. 41, 1949. pp. 1247-1249.
I"-O0-12~]4. ' ~ Ph.vsic.,
~ r e .1 5, 1934, pp. ~ Canadian Cl~cmieal Process Industries, Oil Recovery b y Fluidi~a-
~Wadell, lI., Se,linwntatmn Formula.:
~I-2,1.
. ~ C:~nq~. T. R., S,~,linwntation and Design of Settling Tanks: Prec.
tion: Vol. 33, No. 2. February 1919, p. 123.
~ Stoker, R. L., Erosion Due to Dust Particles in a Gas Stream: Ind.
Eng. Chem., eel. 41, 1949, pp. 1196-1199.
i" i:i
.,tln..%e. Civil Fng.. vol. 71, 1':45, pp. 445-45tL ~ Forsvthe, W. L., Jr., and Hertwig, W. R., Attrition of Fluid Crack-
~l l'~,,,llt, .T.D.. Ya~:.l.N., and S~einer, C. S., Fluldlzulg Process: , ILL
Ch,.h~. Eu~. Pl,v..q',.~!: eel. t3, 1947 I'P. 429-43tL ing Catalysts: Ind. Eng. Chem., eel 41, 1949, pp. 1200-1206.
~s Wilh,.in~. R~ tI., :rod ICwauk. hi.. The Fluidiz~t on of Solid Par- ~ ~lbri;,ht, C. W., Holden, J. H., Simons, H. P., and Sehmidt, D. L.,
tleh.s: Ch,,m, Ettg. Pr-u.. v~l. 44, 194~. pp. 201-218. Pneumatic Feeder for Finely Divided Solids: Chem. Eng., eel. 56, No.
~ .M,,r~o. R 11.. Fluidizadon of Granular Solids: Ind. Eng. Chem., 6, 1949, PI). 10S-lll.
n SchnaekY, .1. F., New Wa.v to Pressure-Seal Solids Flowing Through I';.
~'o~.!1. I!,I!LI' ~. 1117-1121. a Continuous Process: Chem. Eng., eel. 55. No. S, 1948, pp. 124-126.

t"
 !. [ :~,

PRESSURE DROP THROUGH PACKED TUBES, TURBULENT FLOW

GENERAL CORRELATION
packed columns and fluidization of s o ;
VARIABLES particles suggested that equation (1) be m o d i ~d
accorcha.g to the assumption of Fair and Hatcl~;
Orienting experimental runs and a survey of ~tnus, tile velocity through the voids can i)!
the literature indicated that the nature of the expressed by
pressure drop obtained in a packed tube is
rather complex. The variables upon which "t~ ..
the pressure drop depends may be considered
1 • under two general classifications, as follows:
A. Variables related to the fluid flowing through where u is the average velocity of the fluidi
the bed: approaching the bed; k~, the "proportion of;'
1. Weight rate of flow. voids in the bed that are effective as far as!~
2. Density of fluid. fluid flow through them is concerned; and 8, the
3. Viscosity of fluid. porosity ratio expressed as void volume p6r"
B. Variables related to the nature of the bed: unit of packed tube volume.
1. Diameter of tube.
2. Diameter of packing. Furthermore, assuming that the dimensions!
3. Fraction of effective voids. of the voids are of the same order of magnitude!,
4. Shape of particle. as the particle diameter, then D~-~4r, where ~.~
5. Surface roughness of particle.
6. Orientation of particles. is a modified hydraulic radius of the interstieesl.
By definition, let
This study is concerned with the effect of all
of the above variables with the exception of the r~e__ffective volume of the packing interstices ":
orientation of the particles. Because, in most effective surface'~ ffpartiele shape'S-' ,
industrial applications, the beds are prepared of particles ] k factor )

"ii '
simply by dumping the packing material into or
the tubes, little or no control can be exercised
over arrangement of the particles; however, it
!/, is believed that the configurations that arise - ~ - ~)koxA' (3i::
b~ from dumping are not sufflcientlv different fl'om .:c .
ea('h other to affect results significantly. where A is the surface; I~, the volume of one ./
The general plan followed in order "to arrive packing particle; £.~, the proportion of t h e :
! at a workable correlation was: effective area of the packing; and X, an area: '
a. Derivation of a working equation. volume shape factor to be defined later.
b. Procurement or experimental data with smooth
particles. By substituting (2) and (3) into (1), one '.:
qL
obtains
e. Correlation of data.
I I d. Comparison of correlation with the working
equation.
\p~-./ (4)
e. Investigation of the effect of particle roughness
upon pressure drop.
AX/ ' i
Substituting :..
DERIVATION OF A WORKING EQUATION

To arrive at a suitable equation describing D~

flow through packed cohmms, it muy be con-
venient to hegin with the general flow equations (the expression for spheres) for
pertaining to empty pipes:
A
V~
and G for pu and rearranging, equation (4)
A k_" ,u2-~ becomes.
P--g¢ ~ u"Dt "-3" (1)
I

Earlier experimental orienting observations

made in connection with pressure drop through
~s " W o r k c i t e d in f o o t n o t e 49, p . 6. '., j
8
 i' PRESSURE DROP TI--IROUGI--IPACKED TUBES, TURBULENT :FLOW

mpiriCa]b', !t found from experiments that the voids in the bed and the degree of ' 1~' , I 4
~-]th empty tubes mat exponent n can nave surface roughness of the pacldng exert upon the • z ';i i I
any value between 1 and 2, depending on the pressure drop. Because literature data only
state of flow. F o r comp.let.ely lan.finar motion, infrequently account for the void effect, and
n ~ 1, whereas, mr c'ompletely turbulent eondi- because surface roughness had so far not been
considered, the work of other investigators u, :'.'
i" . tlons, n, - - - - - ' 2. SHAPE F~CTOR could not be used in this correlation; for this
reason, an entirely new set of experimental ., ,. :lL,4l
In order to define the shape factor, X, in data was obtained in an effort to support
equation (5) let equation (5). The experimental work is re- i i ~1
D ~ a v e r a g e diameter of a particle of any arbitrary ported in table I of the appendix of this paper, ' '1:.'~
~hape; and a description of the experimental unit is .r !:1]' IL
2. D r = d i a m e t e r of a sphere of equivalent; volume;
A=surface area of a particle of arbitrary shape; and given in figure 1. Y~q~erever necessary, cor- ' ,
,i u
A~surface area of a sphere of equivalent volume. rections were made for the pressure drop across i H L,;~ 'fl~' 1 I

'~ Then, A=~D,2', where ~ is an area shape the screen and the first layer of packing material
on top of the screen.
~. factor, and A~= ~-D~~.
i

!*~ "'t C~P ~ ' ~ " ,, lill::].

P, ::';

~' for the sphere of equivalent vohme. f

~K~; By earlier definition, Tr was designated as
,; the volume of the particle. Then,

where 7 is a volume shape factor.

3[ ,, . ,lf lJt
•"., '~'p = ~
;:, i:'llli!]i
for the sphere of equivalent volume.
By definition let

2/*Ilii!t
I " 'J"

A ~D,: (o)
x = ~ =---D-7 • e CO He

Since

v ~ = ~' D,. s =~ D. s, '. '!','i Itl~:'lt

b

solution for Dv yiekls: o-Pressure drop tube ( I - 3 inches dig. h-Secondary control ( s i l e n c i n g )
Interchangeable unions ) valve.
b - A i r blower. I-Union.
D r = 1.2417~/~D~. (7) c- Gas manifold (cross) J-Primary control valve.
d - Rotnmet ers. k-Pressure gnge for total pressure.
Substituting (7) into (0) yields e- Manometer. I - R o t o m e t e r pressure gage.
f - Charge and discharge unions. m - Rofometer thermometer.
x 0.642~D,~ a g- Conlrol (silencing) valve. n - S u p p o r t i n g screen,
'= ~'::aD,,? =0"2057~/-'q" (8)
Fz~u~, 1.--DIAGRAM OF A P P A R A T U S FOR
• ":}3
PRESSURE-DROP STUDIES.
For any particle, • . l ~:~
Systematic experiments were performed using
A a 1 0.75-inch, 1-inch, 2-inch, and 3-inch standard
pipes. Usin., logarithmic coordinates, a pre-
substituting this into (8) and recalling that D= liminary p: of pressure drop versus mass
7ta= ~" t,'~, yields velocity was made. The average slope (n)
of the lines was 1.90. Because from equation
X= 0.205 ~ .A (9) (5) it appears that Ap is proportional to
.: ~.l]li I !1
(l-aP--
8s
EXPERIMENTAL WORK : !'dlli :Jt
In order to evaluate k and n in equation (5), substitution of n=1.90 yields:
experhnental data are needed. Preliminary (1--~)Llo
Ap o= ~s
experiments revealed the extraordinary effect .'i d~[;!|
 ]0 FLUID FLOW THROUGH PACKED AND FLUIDIZED SYSTEMS

Since for practical purposes (1-6) ~-' is a p p r o x i - Z~

m a t e l y equal to (1-~), one m a y write: 2(

~poc (l--~).
~s.o (I0)
• ~, j
Table 1, the key to fig'm'es 2 to 6, indicates o 7
the wide range of test conditions. In the 5
t
I0
:a-, o•,7~" G,o~ o
s
70 • - 3 7 . 2 % original voids _[
2

I
0-40.0% ,, .
5,0
b-I 0.228"Glass spheres

(,9
,.%
>~ 20
O
3,0
0 - - 3 8 . 8 % oHglnol voids
-0-40.0%
(p-41•9 % .
,,

c-I 0.388" Gloss spheres

?-42.5%
•- - 4 4 . 7 %
,,

,,

or|g]no[ voids
" .
0.7
I

il
o 1.0
'.' 0.7
to
n~
0.5 .I
0 0.O8
0
o~ 0 3 MODIFXED REYNOLDS NUMBER Dp_~G
":3
P
o
~ 0.2 F~QVRE 8.--PRESSURE D R O P C O R R E C T E D TO 40
cl P E R C E N T VOIDS VS. M O D I F I E D R E Y N O L D S
NUMBER (~-INCIt STANDARD PACKED
TUBE).
0J
LtJ 2
n."

o03
n 0.07
i:
0.05 ]
0.5

~I ¸;¸ I o
.4
0.02 ~ / _ _ _ = II
i ¸ I00 200 300 600 1000 3000 6000
MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER OpG o~ .2
U2

FI,-mRE 2.~PRESSURE DROP CORRECTED TO 40 o

PERCENT VOIDS VS. MODIFIED REYNOLDS
NUMBER (2-1NCH STANDARD PACKED (~ Q08
TUBE)•
.06

graphs, pressure drops refer to 1 foot of packed .04

height.and were corrected to 40 percent voids .OS
m
by using relation (I0). The choice of 40
.02
r~ percent as a reference state was arbitrary,
and any other value except, near 0 and 100
percent c o u l d have been chosen. Using .O1
logarithmic coordinates, AP40was plotted against 200 500 1,000 2,000 4,000
J
the respective modified Reynolds number, MODIFfED REYNOLDS NUMBER DpG
P
D_~G
# The averao.e slope of the lines is 1.90, FIC~-RE 4 . - - P R E S S U R E D R O P
CORRECTED TO 40 PERCENT
t i just as was found earlie,, for the preliminary VOIDS VS. MODIFIED REY-
plots of AI' versus G. Data pertaining to runs NOLDS N U M B E R (S-INCH
' I STANDAI%D PACKED TUBE).

|
 2!

PRESSURE DROP THROUGH PACKED TUBES~ TURBULE.NT FLOW 11

TAI~LE 1.--K%y t o . f i g u r e s 2 to 6

.De, ! D...~ ,.~pa~at N o m i n a l dimensions,

'
.; tl
Shape Shape Remarks
llUli ,~0. [ll¢'hi's int'hes i Dt , Re l,OOO inches factor Z,,I
/ - -

0.172 o 0671 0 . 0 8 3 1. 8 6 0 ).0886 Spheres ...... 1 .................. II ,,

b--1 . . . .
.22s ~:o67! .11o • 720 .0884 .... do ....... I ..................
! : --
388 2.067! .188 • 139 .0871 .... do ....... ..... do . . . . . . . . . . I ..................
e-1 ..... • 41 ..
.5075[ 2.067 i •245 .058 • 0860 .... do ....... ..... do . . . . . . . . . . I .................. ,. :.,~-..
:!h:::
f-1 .....
~075i
.5075i
2.067[
2.0671
.245
.245
.100
• 168
.0680t
• 0527[
.... do
.... do
.......
.......
.....
.....
do
do
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
I
1
Air at 223 ° F.
Air at 340 ° F• , , "L."ll
• 50751 2.0671 .245 .285 • 1175 .... do ....... ..... do . . . . . . . . . . 1 CO~at82 °F.
g-1 .....
h-1 ....
.297 2.067 .144 • 390 •0882 .... do ....... ..... do . . . . . . . . . . 1 Nonuniform pack-
ingd iii,

i-1 ..... .314 i 2.0671 .152 • 330 .0875 .... do ....... ..... do . . . . . . . . . . 1 ..... do ...........
i-1 ..... .393 i 2. 0 6 7 / .190 .156 • 087fl .... do ....... ..... do ....... ___ 1 ..... do ...........

k-1 .... .403 12 . 0 6 7 . .204 • 210 • 0864 Cylinders -~. . . . ~x~in.D ..... 1. 1 6 0 Pellet ~=0.833.

a-2 ..... .08851 •824 •107 15.00 .0840 Spheres ...... See D~ .......... 1 ..................
i
b-2 .... .169 I ,824 .205 2. 10 .0840 .... do ....... ..... do .......... 1 ..................
c--2 . . . . . .204 ] .824 .248 1.20 .0833 .... do ....... ..... do .......... 1
d-2 .... .224 ] .824 .272 • 94 .0843 .... do ....... ..... do .......... 1 ..................
c---2. . . . . .391 ] .824 .474 .18 • 0826 ..... do ....... ..... do .......... 1 .................. I +, ,1~'
.5075 .824 .615 •085 .0810 ..... do ....... ..... do .......... I '. "i,'
ii: f-2 .....
h
g-2 ..... .274 .824 .332 • 700 • 0830 CylindersS .... 0.247 x 0.236 in. D_ 1• 1 4 5 Pellet ~=1.048•
h
h h-2 .... .254 .824 .308 1. 0 4 0 .0825 ..... d o 4. . . . . . 0.232 x 0.217 in. D_ 1. 1 4 7 Pellet ~-=1•070• H, :

i[!i i-2 . . . . .
a-3 .....
.403

.228
.824

3.068
.490

.074
• 215

• 990
. 0810

.0762
Cylinders

Spheres ......
~. . . . See k-1 .........

See D~ ..........
Seek-1

1
See k-l.

..................
}d t '~
.'p) tli: ,

b-3 .... .388 3.068 •127 .179 .0750 ..... do ....... ..... do ........... 1 .................. " ,.,-!• 117,
ill e-3 ..... .5075~ 3.008 .166 • 068 .0751 ..... do ....... ..... do .......... 1 ..................
d-3 .... .73001 3.068 .238 • 0265 •0745 .... do ............ do .......... i ..................
e--3 . . . . . .403 3. 0 6 8 .132 • 0236 .0755 Cylinders~ .... See k-I .......... See k-1 See k-l•

11,--4. . . . . • 188 1.049 •179 2.480 .0870 .... do L ..... 0.263 x 0.128in. D_ 1. 2 2 0 Pellet; ~=2•06•

M-T-- • 350 1.049 .334 • 540 .0830 R i n g s s. . . . . . . x ~ x }{ in• D _ _ . 2. 1 8 0 Pellet d]--~= 1 . 0 0 .

!: xi:! '!
'4'
" "' ,} [lJl,,,
I
.420 1.049 .400 • 1,,: ,t1~
• 180 .0830 Cylinders a. . . . ~. x }{~ i n . D . . . . . . 1. 1 7 5 Pellet ~= 1.60.
d-4 .... .393 1.049 .375 . 130 .0830 Spheres ...... See D~ ............ 1
• 5075 I. 049 .484 • 0725 . 0830 ..... do ............ do ........... 1
• 403 1.049 .384
" ~'"
"f. li!
.175 .0820 Cylinders s.... See k-1 .......... See k-1 See k-1.
• I

• 228 1. 0 4 9 .217 • 750 .0785 Spheres ...... See D~ ........... Nitrogen at- 7 5 ° F •
.L~ 111,
I1,,
b-5 .... • 228 1.049 .217 • 590 .1040 ..... do ............ do ........... 1 and various pres- ~ L,, tl 1
I tl
e--5 . . . . . • 228 i 1.049 .217 .445 1355! ..... do ............ do ........... 1 stlres.
d-5_ _ _ • 228 1.049 .217 • 372 .1670i ..... do ............ do ........... 1
e"5 .... • 228 1.049 .217 • 345 • 1840i ..... do ....... t. . . . . do ........... 1

l E x c e p t v,"hen I n v l l f i o l l e t l . t h e r w i s e , r u n w a s m~de with air of average temperature, 75 ° F .

S t U n g s t e n ~ulfid~,• co~d-h.~'droTen~ltion catalyst. .~ i ', ~1!
C { m p e r ("%']hhltT<
t -'ilfifi~imfin ~,~-~J,i 'rs.
CohMt .xhh,~ Fiseher-'l'r,~psch¢'atalyst.
I DIaIIIt It r o f llllXt iI Ihlt k l l l r S t d l c u l l i t ~ d d ¢ ( O D l l l l g l 0 ~ q u , l t l o l l .U~ p . . ~ .
: 12 ,

'> i1
,7,~ ',h
'GI !1,

'~ tl;

94::1247 % - 5 1 - - 2

i - :i ,i~
~'~.I
~ ~'

ii
 ,

~t 12 FLUID FLOW TI-IROUGH PACKED A-N'D FLUIDIZED SYSTE.'VIS

In figure 8, pap40 is show-a versus the gas

viscosity. Logarithmic coordinates were use .
and the runs pertain to air and carbon dioxi,
at different temperatures. I-Iere, too, the bed
¢.D
~haracteristics remained undisturbed in order
exclude any additional variables. For the
I ge of .condi.tions investigated, the data fall

o
O7
m

ih~ a st ralgn~ line, of slope (+2.00), indicating

t papcc~.

'i I-
6L ~ J
I-
0
IM
¢.¢.
. _ I I III I I
>0 C-5 p=0.1355 ~ - pocking 0.228 gloss spheres
'0 ,
(D
d - 5 p=0.1670 I . I [ I [ b-5
o. 2 - o-sp=o.,8,oJ I!//I ,A I I
i' ¸ ' •

L~
n
o¢,..
m 0.7
-+
fi ' ;
re"
! i ~/JYl

i':
(,9
IM
rr"
a. .3 J <1

i
.2
ca .2
(
.I
[ (n
UJ
0.07
5O0 1,000 2,000 J oI
5,000 15,000
i l MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER
P
oos I I" -
I00 200 400 2,000 1,000 5,000
EIm'RE &--PRESSURE DROP CORRECT- MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER
DpG
ED TO 40 PERCENT VOIDS VS. 5IODI- P
FIED REYNOLDS ArUMBER (1-INCH FIGURE 6.~PRESSI~RE DROP OF NITROGEN
STANDARD PACKED TUBE).
AT VARIOUS TOTAL GAS PRESSURES (I-INCH
STANDARD PACKED TUBE).
a-l: b - l , c-1, b-2, and g-2 refer to spheres of
various diameters and to cylinders, either in a 1.07--
2-inch or 0.75-inch pipe. For each run,
b--
S
pressure-drop measurements were made to
two or three different bed voidages, and it was o 0.6 f-- -~'b-5
observed that, for example, a variation of voids <I ~--
fl'om 40 to 43 percent reduced the pressure drop
;4 ~--
7i

23 percent. The fact that the data, referrecl

!
to ~=0.40, fall on one line indicates that
relation (10) is generally valid for all particle
and tube diameters ancl shapes. 0.25 [---
0.05 0.10 0.25
Figure 6 shows data obtained with nitrogen
under five different pressures. During these GAS DENSITY ,o
runs, configuration and other bed properties FmURE 7.--PRESSURE D R O P VS.
remained undmnged, and the pressure drop GAS D E N S I T Y ( 1 - I N C H
across the tube was small compared with t h e STANDARD PACKED TUBE,
NITROGEN DATA).
static fluid pressure. Figure 7 shows the rela-
tionship between Ap~0 and the average gas den-
s!ty.plott_cd on log-log paper. The slope of the ]n order to show how Ap varies with D,, the
quantity
su'alght line is (--1.0), confirming the ob- PAP4o
servation that Xl.i-'

1
Apcc --. obtained from all the data at Reynolds number
P 1,000, was plotted in figure 9 against Dr. :By
 • " ' L 'i'=

PRESSURE DROP T H R O U G H PACKED TUBES~ T U R B U L E N T F L O W 13

• ' l'J~
1.5 o-2 I
o.oio I Io I ~L--J:-~-. × - ='-.~-'tube data
--Air,2P~"
F._~z~OF~
o.oo I I o - I" " "
0.8 ~e...~ • ~ 2" ol ,l
2 o.oo .6
--& d-~
.4 _X~;
o.oos ~co~; 8~F1- \'0

o
0.02
fit',
O.05 O.O9
1
GAS VISGOSITY~ .2 b 2~"~
R
FInVRE ,-.--pAp]o VS. GAS VIS-
COSITY FOR CO~ AND AIR
(2-INCH S T A N D A R D P A C K E D
•1 "e.~.~
o L
TUBE). o 0.08 -- m5 -=

using logarithmic coordinates, a straight-line ,, .06 . . l,b.l

relationship of slope (--3.00) was obtained, in-

dicating that .04 14
o
1
A p cc D ~.°----3"
21-
/ [i
.%.summary of the various results indicates / j-I, e-3, i-2

!
that, according to figures 2 to 6, e.?__.-.~,~/I I U l
b-3 --.~[/j-li" f-4 j;~ ~ ~ "i'
c =~'---c-~ I I
(D,ey.,.
\--;- / , .on t
• L ,
,., ,'j~t~ ¸
0.008 1
,006
similarly, for figure 7, Apoc p figure 8, Apcc~ ~, i

1 .004 I
and figure 9, Ape< D~.00 I
.005 ',
Combiuing these proportions results in: h
.002 I
?:4
hpcc (1--a)/D"---G'~ ''~ 'u=X"------~--Z"G"~'a°~'~XL'(1-a) (11) ,0015
~,a---k, # / pD~3.,o - ' ° D~.* gp<$S 0.08 O.l" O.Z O.4 0.7 1.0 1.5
Dp, INCHES

It will be observed that the experimental FIGURE 9 . - - R E L A T I O N S H I P B E T W E E N P R E S -

equation (11) is identical with equation (5), SURE DROP AND PARTICLE DIAMETER.
which was derived earlier. After evaluating tz
from all the data and averaging, the fmal for the high-turbulence range. The curve may,
.r
equation becomes: however, be replaced satisfactorily by a straight
line, the equation of which is given'by: |, %;
Ap = 3"50GI"~O'~M'*(1 --a) (12)
D;).]pg~a ~ f----1.75 ( D ; G'~-°''' (13) Z'i,

In figure 10, modified friction factors have In terms of a modified friction factor, .f,
been plotted against modified Reynolds num- equation (12) may then be written:
bers. The points fall along a curve, the slope
of which varies between (--0.25) for the low A 2fG2)J'*(1--a) (14)
Rey~mlds-number range to zero in the limit P="
.l:U
: ' °i i';"
=.,.l

'lit
 i •

16 FLUID F L O ~ ~ TI-IROUGI-I PACKED AND FLI.'IDIZED SYSTEMS

2 -" -Uniform spherical packing

x Mixed spherical packing
o - Cylinders , !
r ,'.;1
di

f i
q 0.8 I ,'v .~

;i
.6 ' ti'i
J

.,4~
2oo 500 qooo ,ooo '7,000 2o,ooo
DpG
MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER
Fm~'~E 1 0 . - - F R I C T I O N F A C T O R VS. M O D I F I E D REYNOLDS NUMBEI~.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Two factors seem primarily responsible for:." ~
Consideration of equations (13) and (14) the loss of pressure that a compressible fluid ['
reveals that all quantities with the exception of ,~]lffers when passing through packed columns..
X and 8 are readily available from process ev are (1) expansion and contraction caused. ~Iti
specifications. It appears, therefore, that the by the shape of the voids into and through which ""
uscfu!ness of the equations can be greatly in- ~hueflu!d must flow and (2) flietion between the',' ~,~
crea~c~l by dQ'eloping correlations which p~rmit m stream and the particle surface. If beds'.
preawuon o~ ~ and 6. Such developments have of equal void content were made up of spheres, :
been attempted and are reported in a later cylinders, and rings, the rings, having the::
section.
I..,
In the derivation of X, no restrictions were
7~"]
!:

imposed on the shape of the particles of diam- stream. It appears, therefore, that the s h a p e ~
eter D,~. This would possibly suggest, that the factor mereh- accounts for the additional effect
factor should apply to a considerable variety of which the increased surface of nonspherical ii~"
particles, however: complex. Fair substantia- packings exerts upon the pressure drop.
tion of this is found in figure 10, which shows The validity of the equation was tested Over .!
modified friction factors for rings, cylinders, Dp I
and spheres to be in essential agreement with a range of ~ extending from 0.074 to 0.615. ' ..,
each other. Later work will demonstrate that In spite of this considerable variation, no cor- "}
data observed with Berl saddles, shapes that rection factor for wall effect was required in "I
are considerably more complex than rings, also
fall in line. equation (14). The reason for this omission is
For particles of simple geometric shape, the ~pp arent from an examination of the method ,
y which ~ was determined. H 8 is found by :
shape factor may readih- be calculated from the immersion, the wall effect is accounted for in
particle dimensi(ms. For more complex shapes, the measurements. This has already been ob-
k is best found by actual experiment. Usually served by Carman,~9 and simple proof will be " :
the total voids, 8, can be determined by im-
mersion. If filled
the particles are porous, the crev- given later. The fact that the equation applies
ices may be with paraffin, and the water- D~
to high ratios of ~ seems to indicate a funda- : ,
displacement method may then be used. After
the voids have been determined, a pressure- mental similarity between flow through empty
drop experinlent is best. performed under con- and very loosely packed conduits. For mkxed :i :i
trolled flow conditions. Solution for X is then spheres, a satisfactory correlation results when
immediately possible bv substituting respec- the arithmetic average diameter on ~ weight "
tive values~into equation (12). basis is chosen for D~. .
For spheres, X=I ; but for all other particles, Examination of figure 10 indicates that the
X>l. This is in agreement with the funda- scatter of the data is approximately 4-8 per-
mental observation that a sphere is that shape cent. Experimental measurements nlav be in :' i
that provides a given volume with the least error by as much as 4-5 percent, owing to an i
surface area.
i~ Work cited in footnote36, p. 8. Y ," !
 i
]

PRESSURE DROP TI-IROUGI-I P A C K E D TUBES~ TURBULENT FLOW 15

CONDENSATION OF THE EQUATION
uncertainty of 4-0.5 percent; in the determina-
tion of the voids in the bed. :For this reason,
it is bclicved that the correlation incorporates ~Iost common gases h a v e viscosities within
all of the major variables usually encountered the range 0.019 to 0.077 lb. hr. -~ ft.-]. These
with random packing• values, when raised to the 0.1 power as required
by equation (12), become 0.73 -I-7percent. As
NOMOGRAPH OF PRESSURE-DROP EQUATION this variation is ~ithin the limits of error of
the pressure-drop correlation, the value of 0.73
Ocsi~Zl of catalytic equipment frequently in- for/~o.~m a y be accepted as constant for the pur- f • I

voives \a great number of pressure-drop ea].eu- poses of the nomograph. With Ap expressed in
lations. As the order of magnitude arising pounds per square inch, the constant 3.50 be-
| ' } :ij
fronl various operating conditions is the primary comes 0.0243. Combining this with g and ~o.z
factor rather than the high degree of accuracy transforms equation (12) to equation (15). g "i"
of the results, all alinement chart may save
,. ,; L !
t~mcfor the engineer. Consequently, equation
') has been used for the constr[lction of A p =~.27 )< 10-HG ~"~ ~"-~T-- \Dr}
i!~i
nomograph.
.30"
x p 6
W Of, G '~P Op, inches
Ibs. per hour Ibs. per Ibs. p e r
I~perhour inches per square foot square inch k
Nomlnoi cubic foot
A c t u o pnpes~ze 3oo,ooo .~ per foot
schedute 40)
200,000 --
6.0 "~ .35 -
5.0 - I' .3
tOO,OOO-
0.t-
7o.ooo --_ 4o~ ~diJ
50,000 -- • .
V L
40,000 " - ,OOt
02- i 1,000
30,000 -
500
t/8
0.3-
- I/4 20,000 - 2O0
~0--

1
0.'4--
0,5 £ 5O
- I/2 tO,O00 - ~45
O,T- -: 20 L •004
,.o ~- ~ 7,oo0 - tO L .O05

".007 1.0 ¸ //
V4 5,000
2
-12-' ~ . . . . 3-.-0~0~ L "....... 0.8 - - //"/,5O H
1.0
2o-;
l 70 -" 2--"1/2 2,000~'~" "~'"~"~,~, o5
: ......... ";o~_~ " ~.oz
L
~2
'-- oJ ~,~. // 0.5 -~
- 5 I,O00J ,O3 /
50-- ~. ,05 '~
. .04 ~/ 0.4
70 " -- 700 1 ~,~
• ~C',O -- --8 500 0,~ --
tO0 --: --tO ' o,
. ~,~ - - 12 400 1 .60"--~
--14 300 :.1
i50 - --~6 .3-.oo2
-400 200 .00[ 0.2--
• "vJ'3
,~3~
200 -
250 --
50.0 ~
---~.0005
,0002
-2 ~il/
tO0 1
~- .0001
LO~O .00005 ~-.4 F~
50 0.t-
Z ,ooooz
40 .08 --~ 20--
~001
30
"~tO
EO .os - I

4D30

-" ?.¢~0
:1 .05 ~ .?5"J
!t'f "*

IOD~O
Fv;u~c~ il.--PRESSURE DROP FOR GASES IN TURBULENT FLOW THROUGH PACKED BEDS.

t
 16 FLUID F L O W T H R O U G H PACKED AND FLUIDIZED SYSTEhlS

It m a y be noted that for regular geometric Use of Nomograph

shapes tl~e ratio Dp/x can be evaluated b y the
'1 defining equation (9). Connect 100 Oil the IV axis with 2.5 on D t
(nominal) axis and read G=3,000.
t X-- 0.205A
~p23
Dp=6VT,/A.
D,= (6V~/rr)l/s and -~- Connect 0.47 on the ~ axis with 0.74 on the
Dp/x axis; pivot the straight edge at its inter, ,
see'don with reference line I to cross p at 0.081
The homograph (fig. 11) was constructed and intersect reference line II. This last point
fl'om equation (15) with an axis for each of the of intersection is connected with the previously
four groups of variables. determined value of G=3,000, and the con-
necting line is found to cross the Ap axis at the
ILLUSTRATION value of 0.22 p.s.i./ft.
The total pressure drop fox" the 10 feet of
Figure 11 may be used to solve several types pipe will be 2.2 p.s.i. The average pressure in
of problems.
PROBLEM i
the system will be 5--2.2/2=3.9 p.s.i.g., which
will correspond to a gas density 0.945 times
One thousand pounds of air per hour is to be that originMly assumed. This value will, in
blown through a reactor consisting of ten 2.5- turn, lead to a final value of pressure drop of
I' inch-diameter by 10-foot-long pipes in parallel. 2.2
The pipes are packed with moderately smooth 0.945=2.3 p.s.i.
cylinders 0.740 inch in diameter and 0.740 inch PROBLEM 2
long. I t has been determined that 191 cylin-
ders just fill 2 feet, of 2.5-inch-diameter pipe. Fifteen thousand pounds per hour of gas at
!,: The average air temperature is to be 197 ° F. 100 p.s.i, and a density at this pressure of
Inlet. pressure is 5 p s i o. 0.15 lb./ft. 3 are to be passed tM'ough a tower
What, pressure drop "~an be expected? 20 feet tall packed with f i n c h porcelain Berl
Solution saddles.
What tower diameter is required to keep the
The modified Reynolds number is DpG/t,, ap- pressure drop below 10 p.s.i.?
proximately 4,400, and hence well in the turbu-
lent range for which the nomograph holds. Solution
The volume of each packing particle is: Manufacturer's data provide the following
values:
(0.740) Or)(0.740)~/4 = 0.318 in. 3.
Volume of each particle--0.233 in.S
The particle-surface area is: Area of each particle --4.95 in3
Voids ~ 6 9 percent.
i ' (~) (0.740)2/2+ Or)(0.740) (0.740) =2.58 in3. From these data,
The volunle of 2 feet of 2z._,-mch-diameter
'~' D~ 6V,,
pipe is 114.8 in. S. --~--=--~-=0.283 in. and D~=0.764 in.
The volume of 191 pellets is 60.7 in2.
114.8 60.7 For a pressure drop of 10 p.s.i., the average
- -

Z=-- 114.8 --=0.470. pressure will be 95 p.s.i.a., and

D,,6I~ 6X0.318 ^ p-- (0.15) 1~50=0.143 lb./ft3

X ~------~=0.74o in.
w= 15,000 lb./hr.
Inlet air density is calculated to be 0,081
lb./ft. 3. .ks a first'approximation, assume that ..xp= 10/20----0.50 p. s. i./fk
the eh.ange in gas density as a result of pressure
drop is negligible and that 0.081 lb.flt2 is the On the homograph, aline ~=0.69 with D~lX=
average density of the gas.
0.283 inch to find a point on reference I. Aline
Because the~tubes are in parallel, the pressure this point with p =0.143 lb./ft. 3 to Joeate a poing
drop through all the tubes will be equal to th'lt on reference II. Alining this point with &p=
through any one tube. The flow through one 0.50 gives an allm~able value of G, 8,600 lb
tube is: hr.-' 'ft.-'2.
w= 1000/10= 100 lb./hr. :is the value of w=15,000 does not appear on
Tabulation of values: ~he nomograph, one may calculate Dt (in feet)
rom the formula:
w= 100 lb./hr., D~=2.5in., 8=0.47,
¢ j
p=0.081 lb./fO, Dp/X=0.740 in. D__f w V/-~
'-\o.~) "
 PRESSURE DROP THROUGH PACKED TUBES, TURBULENT FLOW" 17
or estimate it. from the nomograph by using a smooth, the effect, of surface roughness of parti- ~. , ,
value of w equal to one-quarter that specified_ cles on the flow of fluids tlu'ough packed sections
and takm~ a~ an ans~\er for D~ t\wce the value was determined. .4. few orienting tests with
,,iven by the nomograph. By this latter very rough materials indicated that the effect is
",~thod,'for G--8,600, if w were 3,750, D~ would considerable and justified further investigation.
b"e-8 6 inches, from which the desired value of
Diis 1 7 . 2 ! l l C } l e s . . . . . . . . MATERIALS AND DATA
The existence of turalnence ]s now verlnea
by calculation of ~ modified Reynolds number New data with rough particles are recorded ! , i.
in table I I of the appendix. T h e y are shox~n
0~ 12,200. graphically in figm'e 12. Figm'e 13 records data
observed by Omen and Watson; ~1 their original
EFFECT OF SURFACE R O U G H N E S S
data are tabulated hx table I I I of the appendix.
Equation (14) is based on data tha~ were
observed with smooth particles. F r o m con- 151 o-Celile cylinders
slderations of flow through empty pipes, ~° it is u)c) I0 b . - C t o y Floschig rings ~
c - Cloy Berl soddles
known that. rou~,hm ss of the surface in contact >0 8.0 d-Celite spheres .
with the moving fluid has a considerable effect
upon the pressure drop in the turbulent range. o~.064.0
0 e - M g O gron~les . " " , °,q
As industrial packing materials rarely are "7i
.0
-7
~ 2.0
Q~
o
~d

"~ 1.0
o0.8

w 0.6 i
> ' "i)
m 0.4 ;.~.
~ o.5 ,/ ii F,
O.Z [ [ [ [ oo--Ori
~ o l l y inoll loose
loose oorron
r ~ement
~00 500 1,000 2,000 6,000
• !l !~!
~DG
MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER

FmU~E 13.--DATA OF OMAN AND W.4.TSON. " !1,

'?!!,.
B o t h plots show, on logarithmic coordinates,
the pressure drop corrected to 40-percent voids
in relation to the modified Reynolds number.
Tables 2 and. ..3, ke$.-s to gfi ures 12 and.. 13, list i I ,,:[,
the general properhes o~ the packings. ~Ia-
t erials of different degrees of rougtmess were
'b
used• Representative samples of the pellets t +t~:
origina,]ly employed by Oman and Watson ~-~
were obtained and examined for their surface
condition. The celite spheres and celite cylin-
IOO 200 500 1,000
2,000 6,000
ders were smoothest. They were comparable
• DpG
MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER with the heavy metal oxide pellets supported on
p ldeselguln', which were described in the section
~. ~'i~c~ 12•~PRESSI;RE DROP THI=tOUGtt COM- covering the general correlation.
~~ MERCIAL P~CKING M&TERI.&LS ~l "Work cited in footnote 38, p. 6.
Nikura~l~,:, j., V,,rcin Dcutscher Ingen[cure, Forschungsheft 361,1933. ~"-W o r k cited in footnote 38, p. 6.

:i!i
41
 18
FLUID F L O W TI-IROUGI:I PACKED A X D FLUIDlZED SYSTE~IS

TABLE 2.~Properties of packing materials

I
Pack- Dp, Dr, D~ ~'ominal
Shape dimen- [ Original
ing in. in. D--'~ Shape [ ! void~ •- x Y e r a g a , .
sions, hlaterial

I
i
in. : in becl, uensit~ :
percent lb./fCz"
I ..... 36S 3 . 0 6 S 3.120 Spheres. . . . . . . . . . . =. . . . . . . . .
I
2 ..... 310 .824 . 3 7 6 . . . . . d o . . . . . . . . . . . . i- 1. 00 Clay_ . . . . . . . . 43. 8
3 ..... 298 .824 . 3 6 2 ..... do ............ 1. 00 . . . . . do . . . . . . . O. 071~
,. - ....... 51.5
325 1.049 . 3 1 0 ..... do ............ - ........
1. 00 . . . . . do . . . . . . . 56. 1
• U ~ I .~ ,
5 .... 252 3.068 .082 1. 00 . . . . . do . . . . . . . ]
I R a s c h i g rings . . . . . . - . . . . . . (j-
1. 50 51. 7
6 .... 252 .824 . 3 0 6 i. . . . . d o . . . . . . . . . . . . 1~ . . . . . do . . . . . . . 54. 7
• U82,t)
7 .... 252 1.049 . 2 4 0 . . . . . do . . . . . . . q 1. 50 i ..... do ....... 62. 2
• U7RI =

8 ..... 170 .824 .206 Rotmcied gran~gs_-- . . . . . . . __ 1. 50 . . . . . do . . . . . . . 61.2-57. • U822

9 ..... 165 3.068 .054 Sharp granules ............... 1. 50 Aloxite . . . . . . . 54. 2-55• 0 • UC~n
10 ..... 170 .824 . 2 0 6 . . . . . do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 10 . . . . . do ....... / • USA,I
11 ..... 54. 0
159 2 . 0 6 7 1 . 0 7 7 ..... do ...... 1. 10 . . . . . do . . . . . . . 57. 3-58. 0
• O7flW~

12 ..... l ......
1. 10 . . . . . do . . . . . . . • U8301
ISO . 824 i ' 218 C y l i n d e r s ............. ~-;~ 54. 4 • 0837>
1. 1 5 Mundum ..... I 48. 5-44. 7
• 0848~ ~
44. 2

TABLE 3.--Properties qf packing materials used by Oman and Watson

Nominal
Packing D~,
in.
Dt• Shape dimen-i Shape Original ':
111.
sioas, i f a c t o r Material voids
m. I in bed,
percent
a .......... *0.333 4•026 0. 083 Cylinders ....... I
b_ .400 4•026 • 099 Celite . . . . . . 1 36. 1-46, 1
IL~schig rings_ _ - I
c ............ .480 4.026 • 119 Berl s a d d l e s . . . . --_-1 90 Olav_ . . . . . . [ 55. 45-62. !
d ......... I .217 4. 026 • 054 Spheres ........... ~ I 2:50 . . . . . . .

......... :::] . ls75 4.026 .047 Granules .......... /

Celite ......
hrgO .......
/ 71. 05-76.
/ 37. 75-46.
~f61 • 42. 5-51. 6 '

The R_ascbig rings of the present work, as

well as those employed by Oman and Watson, results• A reliable procedure finally was
consisted of ordin,~rv cdmmercial clay. The adopted, which consisted in soaking a weighed
surfaces were unglazed and dull• F~ne pro- quantity of Aloxite granules in molten stearic
tuberances could be observed or~ the material, acid, permitting the excess stearic acid to drk)-
and the roughness was barely noticeable when off the surface, and determining the displace-
the particle,~ were moved gently over the skin. ment volume of the granules thus tres ect m
The roughness of the clay balls and the Berl water. This method yielded an apparent den-
saddles seemed approximately equal to tha~ of sity of 2.0 g./cc. This value was used for t h e
the Raschig rings• void determinations.
i
F•
!
The Alundum cylinders appeared a trifle The magnesium oxide granules used b-
rougher, and the roughness seemed sharper than Oman and Watson 2s were not quite so rou,~n
that of the clay particles• The particle density as the Aloxite particles, although a eonsid r a m e '
of these cvlil;ders was determined by water num.be.r closely approached the Aloxite particle ::
inunersion.~ conchtlon. The magnesium oxide granules,,
The Aloxite granules possessed sharp corners ~we~'er, were much rougher than the clay and
and were very much rougher titan the materials mnaum particles• They also possessecl the :,
previously dlseussed. The particles resembled sharp corners that differentiated the Moxite
coke and'were somewhat vesicular. Compara- particles distinctly from the other materials.
tively large pores could be observed on the stir- These sharp corners were the subject of a special
face, and upon immersion in water the material investigation. One batch of the Aloxite was
absorbed a considerable amount, releasing tile charged into a ball mill and "~round round."~' *'
entrapped air in the form of fine bubbles. This This treatment merely rounded~off the corners
property interfered considerably with the de- but left the surface roughness intact• No m
termination of voids in the heels. Obviously, material adhered to the surface• After
water intmersion would have given high value.~ milling operation, the Aloxite particles
of ~. Presaturation of the material with water chiefly egg-shaped and ellipsoid; a few of
was not too satisfactory and gave poor cheek
.~aWork cited in footnote 88. p. 6.

I
I
 PRESSURE DROP THROUGH PACKED TUBES~ TURBULENT FLOW 19
,I

particles rcst, mhled disks, and a small number The geometric mean of the two sieve openings
wert' ahnost sp}~i~'ical. Packin~ No. 8, de- was chosen as D~. The composition of packing I

scrihed in tabh 2, represented~this rounded _,No. 11 is shown in table 4. The choice of a

mawrial. Packing Xo. 10, the original sharp proper value for D~ under conditions of mixed
Aloxite granules, as well as the rounded bodies sizes was stressed earlier. To find D~ for
were invt.stia'ated in a tube with Dt=0.824 granules, geometric mean sizes were cMculated
inch, and the results shown in figure 12 indi- from adjacent sieve openings, and these values
cate that the data obtained with packing No. 8 were averaged arithmetically on a weight basis. ~J
agree with flmse of packing Xo. 10. From this
observation it was concluded that rounding off TABLE 4.--Size dislribulio~ of pac1"ing No. 11
the corners had no significant effect upon the
pressure drop. ! 'J 't
D~ of (Weight-percent) X
Sieve Weight- I frac-
CORRELATION openings, (D~ of fractions)
inch percent tions,
inch i00 l
Figures 12 and 13 show that the pressure
drop ~s proportional to Re ~'~ and also to
0.250 ........ 0.06 0.250 0.0002 • ) !~.
(1-~). .250-.185 .... 3.50 .215 .0075
~3 .185-.157 .... 57.00 • 170 .0968 • ,¢
.157-.132 .... 33•90 • 144 .0488
i'
.132-.111 .... 3.50 .121 •0042 :2;
It seems, however, that these data were not as .111-.093 . . . . . 40 . 101 .0004
j .

reproducible as the measurements reported .093 ........ 1.64 • 093 •0015

I ),i
with smooth materials. D~ o f m i x t u r e = 0 . 1 5 9 4
The range of the data in the present paper, as
far as the ratio of particle to tube diameter is
Concerned, was quite large. D~/Dt varied from In view of the numerous modes of packing I r•
i!
0.047 to 0.376. The percentage of voids fix the arrangements possible when granules are dumped
various beds ranged from 36.1 percent for the into 0.75-inch, 2-inch, and 3-inch pipes, the data
celite cylinders of Oman and Watson to 76.35 on the Aloxite are in good agreement.
percent for the Berl saddles of the same investi- In figure 14, modified friction factors for the
gators. This is an impressive variation, and its various materials were plotted against modified
effect, upon tl~e pressure drop will be discussed Reynolds numbers using logarithmic coordi- I
,~ L

in greater detaih nates. Frictions factors were obtained by

Paeldngs 8, 9, and 10 each consisted of a soh'ing equation (14) for f. For the Aloxite I;i,
j ql,
sized fra¢.tion of Aloxite greater than 0.157 and magnesium oxide granules, a shape factor .tl
inch in diameter but smaller than 0.185 inch. of 1.1 was assumed this value is correct for

7 T 1 ~ ~ -F-V3--I-F
X-Aloxite granules ~ v - M g O granules
A-I/4"Clay Raschig ringsLthi s A .3/8" Clay Raschig rings dale of -
• -Alundum cylinders I-data + I/2_" Berl saddles"
• - C l o y balls j 9 - Celite spheres Omen end Watson
o - Collie cylinders
.3
---;._
2 f
i
~ I' ~ ' l . l ~ r ~ , ' ; ~ . J Atoxite,•fused
'(
- i MgO ran-,es
t
f t I~ I~ ' . - ~ . . ~ _ J ~ . ~ " A/undum, , ,.~ 't ,4
ii
I - , # ' ? - -

- ~ "-~°"°d~ " _ ]" Celite,porcelain,- • rr"

0.7

.5
~ , etc. _
• 4;
I00 200 500 I,OOO 5,000 7,000 20,OOO
DpG 11

MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER - - ~

 20 F L U I D F L O W THROUGIE PACKED AND F L U I D I Z E D SYSTE~IS " :,

particles having a shape halfway between DISCUSSION OF RESULTS .:

spheres and octahedrons. For the ~erl saddles,
the shape factor was calculated from the It is difficult to describe surface roughness Of'
manufacturer's data; the method of calculation particles. To define the degree of rou~hn !
will be discussed later. For all the other shapes, by the average height of the protubeTanc~
X was calculated from the average dimensions on the surface is probably not enou~,l,:
of the particles. Figure 14 shows the marked Xikuradse ~ has exnerimente~d ~,,;~1. ~ ~,.,:
. . o . of . . , . c o ....
data arranged into three distinct groups. ~ The
, lowest group with the smallest friction factors of the form r~ where e is the average height of
pertains to the smoothest particles, that is, the
('elite spheres and cylinders. All data. dis- the protuberances on the pipe surface and~
cussed earlier fell into'this general region. The r~ is the radius of the pipe. The ratio of e[ri"
line drawn through the celite particle data is is referred to as relative roughness. I~ seeras,
the same as that laid through the smooth data plausible that the roughness of particles could!'
shown in figure 10. immediately above this be defined by a similar index, and r~ would
, group is another pertaining to the clay and then be the equivalent particle radius. ~','
:' Ahmdum particles. There is slight. "diffusion" relationship pertaining to pacldng materials!
of the data of the second group into those of could possibly be developed between the pres~,
' the lower group. This is to be expected in sure drop and a quantity such as e/r~; tiffs.
view of the experimental error. Another fric- was not attempted, because roughness dati~!i
tion-faetor line was drawn thi'ou~h this second are not ordinarily available from equipmen~
ii group. The slope of the seco~cl line is the design speeifications. If manufacturers of pack.~-.
l same as that of the first, lower line. Above the ing materials accompanied their data wit]i,
: second group is another group comprising the roughness indexes, it would be practical td,
data of Aloxite and magnesium oxide granules, study the problem more precisels. Until sueli,
: 3.s these granules were nmch rougher than the information is available, it is necessary to~.
! other particles, it is not surprising to find these describe surface roughness in this comparative
data rather sharply separated from the data manner.
pertaining to the clay and Alundum particles. Referring to figure 14, it appears that tl~.'
A friction-factor line parallel to the two lower pressure drop through packed beds is apprdx,:
lines was drawn through these Points imatelv doubled ~hen the degree of surfaee~.
Because all three fi'iction-f£ctor lines could roughness is increased from that represented,,'
'" be drawn in with the same slope, it was con- by celite to the roughness of Aloxite granules:
chided that the degree of surface roughness has Th~s relatmnstnp probabl~ has not yet beei~',
no effect upon the factor for the state of flow, recognized in a quantitative sense, chiefly~
which equals 1.9 for this range of turbulence. ~l~causet.he severe influence of the voids upoll)
Theare:
expressions for the three friction-factor t le pressure well
sufficiently drop appreciated.
through packedWhen
beds was not~,
smooth!.
lines
cy!inders are dumped into a tube, the normhl)
. 1.75, for s m o o t h p a r t i c l e s s u c h as (13) vmdage of the resulting bed is approxdmately~
' ]----R--~
0-I glass, porcelain or cell(e; 12 percent smaller than when very rougIa~
. 2.625 granules of approximately equal size are dumped:;
J-----~-Y.l" for c l a y a n d A h m d u m ; (16) into the same tube. If the cslindrical bed!
and contains 43 percent and the ~ranular bed 55i
4.0 percent voids, for equal mass ~flows and equal::'
f----R-~i.~' for Aloxiteand ~Ig'O granules. (17) packing heights the ratio of the pressure drop~J;'
through the bed of cylinders, A~)¢, as compared !,.
~q~en these expressions for f are substituted to the pressure drop through tl~e granular bed,
into equation (14), one obtafns: A2~, would be approximately -
.. 3.50G~'~t~°'~XH(1--~) w h i c h is e q u a t i o n (12) a n d Ap~ (1--0.43)(0.55)~ - - 1 ~a
:'P---'- D~,L~g(p~ ' valid for s m o o t h particles. Ap--~--(0.43)a(1--0.55)(2.28) . . . . . '

,Ap=5.25G~'°t~°'~X~'~(1--~) which is valid for clay, Ahm- where the factor 2.28 in the denominator""
' D~.~gep~ dum, and other similarly accounts for the effect of the rough surface.
rough particles. (18) This indicates that under these packing condi- ;
8.0G~t~o'~XH(1--3) which is valid for Aloxite, SIgO t i o n s t h e pressure drop through the smoothh:i
Ap=. D~J.~g~p~ ~' granules,andother types of cylinders is 1.16 times that through the muc
similarly rough granules, rougher granular bed. _,
,!-
(19) -'~Work cited in footnote 20, p. 17. :
 PRESSURE DROP TI-IROUGH PACKED TUBE.S, TURBULENT FLOW 21
It was mentioned previously that the densest The equivalent, spherical diameter of the saddles
:t considered in this study contained 36.1 as calculated from the manufacturer's data
•cent voids. This bed consisted of celite was 0.48 inch, and the shape factor was 2.5.
inders. The equivalent spherical diameter For equal mass flows, gas densities, and packing
of these pellets was 0.333 inch, and the cal- heights, the actual pressure drop through the
culated shape factor was 1.16. In contrast, cylinders, hp~, as compared with the actual
the least dense bed, consisting of 0.5-inch loss through the saddles, Ap,, would be ap-
clay Berl saddles contained 76.35 percent voids. proximately
Z~p~ (1--G)G~XCL~D,,L~ (1 -- 0.361) (0.7635p(1.18) (0.446) 11
Ap, Ga(1--G)ML~Dv~L~(1.5)=(O.361)~(1--0.7635)(2.74)(0.298)(1.5) = ,

wherein subscript c refers to cylinders and the pressure drop is caused by expansions and !
subscript s to saddles. The factor 1.5 in the contractions; this is substantiated by the pro- u.'~'
denominator accounts for the roughness effect nounced effect that fractional voids have on I ,t
of clay as compared with eelite. The result the pressure drop. I-Iowever, the data of this
indicates that under these conditions the study indicate that the surface condition also is
pressure drop through the smooth cylinders is important. This is clearly demonstrated by
11 times that through the comparatively rough, the significant increase in pressure drop when
clay saddles. .k variation in vOids from 76.35 proceeding from smooth particles, such as
to 36.1 percent, all other variables remaining glass, to very rough granules. In this par-
constant, would multiply the pressure drop by ticular ease the maximum increase is 2.28-fold.
Brownell and I { a t z ~ have proposed a data
(1 0.361) (0.7635)~
- -
correlation that also includes surface roughness , :ii• •
(0.361)~(1_0.7635) 25.4; as one of the variables. T h e y recorrelated
data from the literature in addition to some of
whereas, changing h'om clay to celite would their own data and, b y a suitable choice of
decrease Ap only by parameters, superimposed the data on a
standard .~Ioody friction-factor plot for flow
100 ( 1 - - 1 - ~ 5 ) = 3 3 percent. through empty conduits. T h e y assigned rough- • .~,.'ii
ness indexes, e/r~, to the individual materials
and thus showed a plot similar to that given in ~, 171,
,w
These simple considerations demonstrate to figure 14. Consideration of their data in the
what extent surface roughness and bed voidage turbulent range shows, roughly, a spread of 100
affect pressure drop• The infiuence of surface percent, indicating a m a x i m u m roughness mul-
roughness would not have been recognized if tiplication factor of approximately 2.
the pronounced effect, of the voids upon the It is instructive to compare figures 14 and 15.
pressure drop had not been considered quanti- In figure 15, the logarithms of friction factors t
tatively first. are plotted against the logarithms of Reynolds
Proof has been presented earlier that in the numbers for fluid flow tln'ough empty p~pes of
turbulent range it is sufficiently accurate to
consider the pressure drop proportional to "T

(1-a)/6a rather than to (1-a)~'~/6a. For

comparatively small variation in percentage
0.6
voids (for example, from 35 to 45 percent), the
error is negligible. ~Vl~en the percentage of 0
voids ranges ];etween 86.1 and 76.35, as in the 0
0.4
resent study, the error introduced is somewhat g
rger; but, even for this wide variation in the .J °:0%9977 f-, • : d1

porosity of the bed, the discrepancy is still 0.2-3 .... 0.00793

within the limits of the experimental error. 4 .... 0.01667 "~'.
5. . . . 0.03270 , ,!ii ,~
Oeneral belief has been that the chief reasons
~ r fluid pressure drop in packed cohmms are
ses due to expansions and contractions in
.e ease of compressible fluids and changes in
0
5.0
6.... ,0.0666.6
3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0
Dt G
LOG ( T )
5.5 6.0 6.5
,

,
i;~:,

I'.!'
Velocity head when dealing with noncompres- F~ou~ 15.--VARIATION OF FRICTION FACTOR
~1hie fluids. Only an insignificant portion of WITH REYNOLDS NUMBER FOR FLOW
P essure drop was believed to be a result of T H R O U G H E ~ I P T Y P I P E S OF D I F F E R E N T
~urfaee conditions. Orientation studies made D E G R E E S OF R O U G H N E S S ( A C C O R D I N G TO
Y *Martin ~* indicate that a definite fraction of NIKURAD.#~E).
1 ~ Iartin,~. J'., D.Sc. Thesis in Chem. Eng.: CarnegieInst. of Tech., ~ W o r k c i t e d i n f o o t n o t e 39, p . 6.
 22 FLUID F L O W TI-IROUGI-I P A C K E D A N D FLVIDIZED S Y S T E M S

various degrees of roughness. These curves M E T H O D S OF C H A R G I N G VESSELS

represent actual data obtained by NikuradseF
and friction factors for flow through empty pipes In industrial practice there are three chief
il}crease with increasing roughness of the int,erior methods of charging pac'ked vessels:
pipe surface. Figure 14 is strictly analogous to
figure 15. However, Nikuradse'investigated a 1. Stacking of individual packing elements in %he
vessel.
nmch larger flow range than was studied in this 2. Dumping the packing into vessels filled with water
research. and subsequently drawing off the water.
It. was pointed out, earlier tha~ the roughness 3. Dumping the packing into the empty vessels.
%':' ~i
of particles may, perhaps, be expressed quanti- The fu'st method is never used with granules
tatively bv the index e/r~. For extremely rough or small, irregularly shaped particles. It is com-
particles tl~e quantity e, the average height of monly used with comparatively large geomet-
the surface protuberances, would be compara- rical shapes, where, for the sake of definite
tivyly t}igh and would eventually approach the process advantages, a certain arrangement of
or(ter ot magnitude of the particle radius. Such the elements is desired. This method provides
rough surfaces would greatly affect the ratio of an exact, means o¢ evaluatino, the pereentao.e of
vmds m the bed, because the number of pieces
particle surface area, A used is generally known.
particle volume, V~ The second nlethod is employed where it is
desired to have a comparatively loose bed.
As the shape factor, X, is a function of Afl%, a Gradual settling of the particles in the loose
fun,lanwntal relationship may exist between bed, however, chiefly as a result of mechanical
roughness and shape factor. For such extreme- vibratlons in the plant, eventually increases the
ly ro~@l particles it would be difficult to decide, packing density. Moreover, the'l'e are a o'reat
ther~fore, whether it is the increased roughness number of materials, especially process ~ cat-
or the shape factor that. affects the pressure drop. alysts, that are permanently impaired if sub-
merged in water or other "fluids. For these
reasons this method of charging also is com-
PREDICTION OF VOIDS IN PACKED TUBES paratively rare.
The conventional procedure is to dump the
Earlier discussions have stressed the important paeldng into the open vessels. This method
effect of the voidage upon the resistance to flow usually does not produce the densest bed; how-
through beds of broken solids. Pressure drop ever, th.e bed gradually settles by virtue of its
was shown to be proportional to an expression o~m weight and mechanical vibrations fl'om the
of the form
~nw!onment. Eventually, a condition of "prae-
le.al maximum be(J-dehsity" is approached,
(1-ap-- wmen is a saIe condition u p o n which to base a
design. This explains ~hy the vessels used in
the experimental work described in this section
which, for highly turhuhmt flow, becomes were c!mrged by "dumping" and "dumping and
pounding."
(1-~)
83
VARIABLES
All other variables in the equation remaining The chief variables believed to influence the
constant, a change in fl'actional voids from 0.40 packing density and percentage of voids in a
to 0.50 reduces the pressure drop more than 50 bed are:
percent._ As designers of new equipment usually a. Particle diameter (diameter of the sphere
have only vague i ~ a s about the apparent den- of equivalent volume).
sity of the packino materials to be used, the b. Tube or vessel diameter.
uncertainty thus introduced in calculations fl'om c. Particle-size distribution.
equation (14) makes the development of a d. Particle shape.
simple con'elation for fairly accurate estimation e. Particle-surface roughness.
of the fl'actional voids in packed vessels desir- f. Method of charging.
I able. To make the relationships useful for g. Specific gravity of pacldng particles.
general engineering design, it was attempted to
include only such quantities in the correlation as EXPERIMENTALDETAILS
are ordina~'ily available from equipment and
process specifications. The vessels used for this work were pipes 30
a;' W o r k cited in footnote 20, p. 17.
inches long, welded shut at one end. Table IV of
the appendix lists the original experimental

i!
i
 'i.;5
PRESSURE DROP THROUGI"I PACKED TUBES: TURBULENT FLOW 23 '5 J

data• Table 5 shows the orientation of the work could the results of this dumping procedure be
and the physical properties of the pacMng ma~- duplicated precisely. The average deviation be- i t . "¸

te[!al: T~:it:iacl~p~ mater!sis were dumped into t~veen check runs (about 4-1 percent) was not g
th~ wssel a o ", steady stream. In no case significant, however.

TABLE 5.--Summary o/ experimental runs

f
Fa~'king Material , Shape D~, inch N o m i n a l s t a n d a r d pipe in
w h i c h voids were d e t e r m i n e d Remarks
' t,'
___ Glas~ ................ ii S p h e r e s . . . . . . 0. 1 7 2 ~a,• 1 , 1 a/o
,., 2, 3, 4 . . . . . .', 2

'i'~. . . . . • 228 }!, 1, 1!~, 2, 3, 4 . . . . . . '1 :[

a~, 1, 1}!, 2, 3, 4. . . . . [ Smooth surface, uniform
. . . . . . . . d o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

c ..... ---- ..... do ............... do ....... • 338

d- ....
............. i ( Io . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. . . . . do ....... .5075 ~, 1, 1~/~, 2 . . . . . . . . . I sizes (fig. 16).
e-'- ....... Steel ................. I. . . . . do ....... • 437 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
/
.... .................. , ....... • 730 lX/~, 2 , 3 , 4 ...........
.... : .............. ..... .... •200
•298 ~ . .I. '4
. . ...........
....... / I Ji,I
i .... - : 2 2 2 -~i'laa's~'~:~u~-d p o r [ , c l - , ' i n : : - :::::do_:_:-_:-_ • 386 1 _ , 2, 3, 4 . . . . . . . . . . |Smooth surface mixed
- ........ do ............... I. . . . . do ....... • 536 1 ~ , 2 , 3, 4 . . . . . . . . . . ,} s p h e r e s • For composi-
i .....
~.-. . . . . _ _ _ _ ' G l a ~ s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . do ....... • 208 a/~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | t . i o n s , s e e t a b l e 6 (fig. 17).
• 2;ii
I ..... - ........ do ............... t..... do ....... • 271 .................. q
n'~'---- .... Glass and porcelain .... ..... do ....... •323 ~.................. ) . t
n---- ...... Clay_ ................ t. . . . . do ....... .325 ~,/1, 1!l ............ ~{oderately rough surface
o ......... ..... do ............... ..... do ....... • 368 1~,_~, 2, 3, 4 . . . . . . . . . . / (fig. 18)•
P ......... I Cobalt oxide .......... Cylinders ..... .466 lg s•' 1 11/' ~ |
q ......... ~ Alunfinum ............ ..... do ....... .254 J~, ~5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,Smooth surface (fig. 19)•
r .......... Copper ............... ..... do ....... • 274 J!, ~/.~, 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s .......... Chromium oxide ....... ..... do ....... .239 ~, 1,4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . c ,,Ii,,,,
t ........... Ahmdum ............. ..... do ....... .180 }4/, ,~4, }!, N , 1, l ~ ! , 2, Rough surface t (fig. 2 0 ) •
3.
U ......... Clay_ ................ Rings ........ • 252 ¾, ~, ~/, 1, l~!, 2, 3, Commercial Raschig rings
4. moderately rough sur-
V ......... Cl'~y ................. :. . . . . do ....... • 397 ~{, 1, 1!~, 2, 3 , 4 . . . . . . face (fig. 24). 'i
' '?)i
Aloxite ............... Grmmles ..... •1219
}~/, ~ , 1 .............
.1511
1.409
Rough surface (fig. 2 1 ) . :;%
I .2224
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i m, , , : h "

Iron oxide ................. do ....... .0898

:I '•iI
I .1058
~!~ 1 ............. |tRough surface (fig. 2 2 ) .
• 1418 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iJ 7 i•';
.2054 " ,l)
y ......... Ahmdum .................. do ....... .0732
.1007
~,i, "A, 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . l iFused, rough granules (fig.
.1601
1.469 .............. I 23)•

1 CyJk, h, rs, 3.8 r a m . di'am,'ter X 5 ram• high•

i '

After the vessds had been charged with a. "loose" and "dense" beds, respectively, was
known (solid) volume of particles and the plotted against the ratio D~/Dt. C~rman ~sused
voids had been determined from the packed similar method of correlation for spheres.
hdght and the inside dianleter of the vessel, Cartesian coordinates were used, ~nd, for the
the packed cohmm was pounded oil the outside materials investigated, D~,/Dt ranged from ¢t
with a hammer for approximately !0 minutes-- approximately 0.04 to 0.50. In view of the
lOll ~, - t ,
. g. unmlgh to produce a maxbnum pacMng variety of materials considered, the era'relations
are satisfactory• The difference between the
voids contained in the loose and dense beds was
• p ~ p" ., approximately 2 to 5 percent• The curves
plant comhtions were simulated. Correlations shown in figure 25 were obtained from the data
of results are shown in figures 16 to 24. The of figures 16 to 24 b y plotting the ~rithmetical
percentage voids of "dumped" and "dumped average between the loose and dense arrange- ~J4I .4L "~
and pounded" beds, hereafter referred to as n3ents. With the exception of the Raschig I!:t
rings, all the curves show ~ general tendency
:I Wr, r k e i h , d in f o o t n n t e 2~. p • 5. to converge near DT,/Dt=O.

!1
,h
, ,(]

....11
 24
FLUID FLOW TI-IROUGI-I PACKED AXD FLUIDIZED SYSTE~IS

6O
I '70
A- Dumped 6O I
70
B - - Dumped and pounded £ A- Dumped
50 g
6O B-Dumped and p o u n d e d
< 50
a3 60 m
>.

50
a3
03 x i
J >.
m
o3
At. ~ ~. ...--~ >°~° ~ c~
I-- 5o >~
I--
Z F-
- x p''- i LU
=,~" " , ° - 0 . 1 7 2 " Gloss beads O W

20
B ".~'~:

A
•
~ - o.2~8"
o - 0.388"
-- 0 . 5 0 7 5 "
,,
,,
- 0 . 4 3 7 " Sleel balls
,,
,,
~ 30
3o

S~
>

• -- 0 . 3 2 5 "
I
Clay balls
4o

• - 0 . 7 3 0 " Porcelain balls x--0,368" Clay bails

i
lO I i 2o- I I
0 O.I 0.2 03 0.4 "o.5 o o.~ 0.2 0.3 • 0.430
Dp
D__E
D!
Dt
FIGURE 16.~VOIDS IX PACKED TUBES VS. D.__~ FIG~,-I~E 18.--VOIDS IX" PACKED TUBES VS. ~D-.
FOR S-MOOTH, UNIFORhI SPHERES. D~ FOR CLA~" BALLS.

50 i I
70
A - Dumped
I A
B - Dumped and paundedl~
4O t
60 70Fe -Cofolysl peltels, ().406" diem. X 0.407"hlgh
o
>. X-Aluminum cylinders, 0.217"diam. X 0232" high
m
A '>. 60 O-Copper cytinders, 0.236"dlom. X 0.247"hlgh
~n30 fo z3- Catalyst pellels, 0.200" diam. X 0.227" hlgh / i
Q 5 0 ¢n
o> E3
o
m~5o i :6o~
,~ 2o
n~
..~....~ jB
4o z
i---
bJ o
o. r,-
- Mixed packing I
=o
×- " " 2
I0 O- . " 3.
I SO
For C o m p o s i t i o n o f p a c k i n g s Z~- - " 4
r e f e r to t a b l e no. 6. &- " " 5 4O

~7- .i I .
20
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 2O
• r 0
Dp 0 0.1 02 03 0.4 0.5 0.6
Dp
Dt
-q,
D~
FZ,~t'RE 17.--VOIDS IN PACKED TUBES VS. "D-t
FzOURE 19.--VOIDS IR" PACKED TUBES VS. Dp
D---~
FOR SZIOOTH. ~IIXED SPHERES.
FOR S-~iOOTH CYLIXDERS.

I
t

:t
i
 •pl

|~
PRESSURE DROP THROUGH PACKED TUBES~ TURBULENT FLOVq 25
70 I 80 60 , = ;'0
A-- Dumped • - Packing X - I ,%- Packing X - 2
I
) - Packing X - 3
B-Dumped and pounded
6O / / 70 )-
~ 50 6C ~

~ 50
=o
>
o I A'Dumied (/3
C3
> ,
.! |
L~
• • . B-Dumped o.nd pounded I-.-
,,z,40 5o,Z,
0 O
~° . - - - - - - - - BO~
r~
Ld
n

30 - ~ v-Pockiqg X-4 40
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4-
i i/i
4O Dp f

Dt
2O 30 FzGu~E 22.--VOIDS IN PACI(ED TUBES j '
O 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0-5 D, t
Dp VS.~, FOR FesO~ (IRON FISCHER-
DI o;
TROPSCH CATALYST) GRANULES.
F~;,'~E 20.--VOIDS IN PACKED TUBES
I
VS. ~-,
D~ FOR ALUXDU.~I CYLINDERS. 70 80
e-Packing y-I I ! I~.!
O - Packing y - 2 J.--Table "TE I ii.J
A - Pocklng y - 3 ~,,,A
'~ 6 0 I 70 ~
>- A-Dumped
m j ~/ A >. d,
(,9" (,9

> 50 60>
I-- I-
,,, • z
(j uJ
r,-

t~ 50

i B - Dumped and pounded

30 l ; 40
0 0,1 02 0.3 - 0.4
Dp
80 , ~, 90 DI
A - Packing W-
¶
I
W- 2~" Table ~ "
i ]~*'
" FzGz;~ 23.--VOIDS IX PACKED TUBES.
o - ,, w - 3J D,
7 0 - ~t - " 8,' ' 80 VS. ~ FOR FUSED ALUNDU3I GRAN-
- " I0, _ .
ULES.
T
' :,.LI
60 I " • 70 ~ 80 90
O3
A - Dumped ~.
mped
B - Dumped and pounded
F- ,,~ 70 80m
5o - 60 ~
o A A
b3
g
O.
~o •

7o>~
il ¸
p und
pounded 6o~
i ! .- ,,o,' o,o, o.4 ,t
4
30
I
40
0 0,1 0.2 0.3 0.4
4C 50
Dp 0 OJ 0.2 0,3 OA 0.5 0.6
I ~ I¸

Dt DD
4
Dt
F~,:,'~E 2I.--VOIDS I.A~ PACKED TUBES
FIGuR~ 24.--VOIDS IN PACKED TUBES VS. I)~
VS. ~,
D, FOR ALOXITE GRANULES. Dt
FOR RASCHIG RINGS.

: ~i•
 26 FLUID FLOW TI-IROUGI-I PACKED AND FLUIDIZED SYSTEMS

0•9 basis was chosen for D~. This m a y be ex-

- b -Smooth,mixed ~- s~hericol
II] ~ pressed by:
"c -Cloy "
.8 • d - Smooth, uniform "] .q_ D,,=(Xd~,)~-l-(XdT,)~.--b .. • (Xdr)z, (20)
• e--Alundum,uniform ~ cylindricol "l"
~o -0.5
' f --Clay Raschlg tings J 1-
:q - Fused magnetite (sin NH3 COt)] ]: xshere X----weight fraction of any component,
r 7- ° °

LU
. h -Fused Alundum ~.qronules -0.25
d~=equivalent spherical diameter of any com-
I-* -,oI ponent, and subscripts 1, 2, . . . Z refer to the
aI-14-LaLLL
-t-~ I-~ lh,L~iJM-~,
2 _,, ! i i
.,,~._LI I I I I III
III r
~ I-°.5
i number of components. This convention, when
used to calculate D~,/D, for the various mixtures
~.6 in figure 17, produced satisfactory results.
z

I L.f--H"h 3.o I-t s

h .° TABLE 6.--Composffion o/ mixed spherical
>~.5 ,~rl I I /
I I I I r 4 . ° i -2-0 packings
I LLY:o.oI-= Volume I
percent
' ! ~,.4 pll oh .o 1',fixed packing
.Dp of
fractions,
Volume, X Dp of ] ..Dpof Packing
tO 6.0 • Ff r a c t i o n s | InlxHlrt

2-~-,dT/-~L_~\l_~\ |
llll
'\LL\L I I I I I I }-t5 I-=o
inch
r
p e cen~ "--"i0"6"--'

inch I
.."
inch
'. (see
t a b l e 5)

II;: i I .51
O O.I 0.2 O,5
III II
0.4
I I L2o J-~3
| 1 L 2 5 H t6
0.5
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0. 172 50. 70 ] 0.0873 | ......
• 228 49.30 ~ •1122 I
Dp 2 .................. • 172 , 23.35 .0401 i
,,.,uu

Dt • 225 24. 74 .0569 .298 !

• 3..'33 51.90 : • 2010
3 .................. • 172 16. 55 ! .0285 i
FIGURE 25.--VOIDS IX P A C K E D TUBES VS. D._.__~ • 22S 15. L .0346
.0771 .3861
D, .388
• 5075
19.8~
FOIl A VARIETY OF M A T E R I A L S . 48.4~ • 2458 !
• 172 12. 81 •0220
• 388 1S. 2( .0706
• 5075 27. 0( .1370 .&~61
• 730 42.0[ .3064 !
COMMENTS • 172 38. 0 .0665 . ~)S!
k
• 228 62. 0 .1412
6 .................. • 172 30. 8 .0530
Figure 16 shows data obtained with smooth • 2~$ 32.4 .0740 .271 1
• 388 3&8 .1440
glass, porcelain, and steel balls• It is important • 172 20. 9 .360
to note that the data referring to the steel balls • 228
• 388
17. 2
21./i
.0393
.0438 .323 m
agree with the rest. of the observations. This • 5075 40.3 .2040
indicates that, for this method of charging, the
material density of the particles has no effect
upon the bed voidage, and the problem is Figure 18 presents values observed with clay
sin}plified. Figure 19 confirms this conclusion balls• The curve representing these data is
and extends it. to cylindrical packing particles. parallel to and above the line referring to the
Data referring to mixed spherical packings smooth, uniform spheres. The deviation be-
are presented in figure 17. Deviations of the tween the two graphs is about 3 percent for the
data fi'om a straight line are greater than those entire range. This is significant because it in-
of the data pertinent to uniform sizes shown in dicates that rough particles pack less. densely
figure 16. Figure 17 shows that beds composed than smooth ones under comparable charging
o.f mixed spllerical pacldngs are denser than conditions• This behavior can be explained as
those consisting of unifm'm spherical particles, follows: When particles are dumped into a ves-
provided the methods of bed preparation are sel, they normally come to rest ~ hen they touch
comparable. This is in agreement with the one another and form a stable arrangement.
observations of Furnas. 2u The reason for the If a temporary unstable arrangement should
greater t)ed density obtained with nfixed sizes result, then, under the application of a sufficient
s that the small particles tend to fill the voids force, this arrangement will change to a more
l)etween the larger ones. stable condition:---that is, to a denser bed.
The compositions of the various mixed ~.'hcther the acting force is sufficient to bring
packings are recorded in table 6. P a c k i n ~ about such a change depends on the fl.iction
< 1 and 5 consisted of two components, packings that results when the individual particles move
2 and 6 of three components, and packings 3, into the more stable position. Because fric-
4, and 7 of four components. For mixed tion is greater between rough particles than
pacldng materials, it was pointed out earlier between smooth ones, rough particles come to
that satisfactory restllts were obtained when rest sooner when dumped into-a tube; the result
the arithmetic average diameter on a weight is a less dense bed. This general behavior is
i characteristic not only of spherical particles
-"~ W o r k c i t e d in f o o t n o t e 33, p. 5. but also of other shapes. Curves d and e in
 PRESSURE DROP THROUGH P A C K E D TUBES~ T U R B U L E N T FLOW 27
The data of figure 24 refer to two sizes of i,:2
figure 25 refer ,to smooth and rough cylinders, 1

re,pectivelv. "Ihe data. pertaining to the com- Raschig rings and seem in good agreement. I

~:,.:~tivelv'rouzh Alundum cylinders are above Owing t o the hollow nature of this packing, 1'
tilose r e f e r l ' u ] g t o tile s m o o t h cyhnders. D e v i a - one would expect a high value for ~. ~or the t

Raschig rings, the diameter of the equivalent ' . i!

tion between the two lines varies from 2 to
5 percent. volume sphere was chosen for D~. The rings IL /,t i
Data referring to cylindrical pellets are sho~m considered in this study were comparatively 1
'{i ~ ,
in figure 19. The correlation is fair. For the small. For lar~er pieces, that is, larger than
pellets used, the !'atio of height/diameter ranged 0.25 or 0.375 i~ch,-the ratio of.inside/outside
between 1.00 and 1.14. Packing s, the catalyst diameter increases, resulting in a general • [°
pellets, was rounded on top and bottom, whereas increase of voids. In view of this fact, it is
felt t h a t additional data would be desirable ; "I ?I :
all the other particles were true cylinders.
Although one would expect these factors to for more accurate work in order to predict ',+ +~li,,!
intluence results, no significant trend is indi- the voids present in beds of larger Rasclfig ' £|t

cated by the data. rings. From a knowledge of the dimensions , i ;!i

Figure 20 shows results obtained with of the larger pieces, it is possible, however, as r i t, ;

Alundun~ cylinders of one size. The reason for the follo~4ng considerations will show, to °+,

the upward convex curvature of these curves, estimate the voids present by using the curves , -,?${
as compared with the upward concave shape of shown in figure 25 for cylinders. Tf curve +1
the curves in figure 19 (pertaining to smooth .~ in figure 25 is employed for larger pieces, a
cylinders), is not known. For figures 19 and 20, conservative estimate of the pressure drop i '

the diameter of the equivalent volume sphere should result.

of the particles was chosen for D,. ,g
In industri~?l c,~tal$:sis, gramiles are, perhaps, GENERAL ESTIMATION OF VOIDS FOR RINGS
used m o r e frequtntl~ titan any other particle
shape, cifi¢fix, bec~use tl~e)" are cheaper to pre- Consider a 2-inch standard pipe packed 36
pare than p~u'ticles of cvl~nch'ical, spherical, or inches high with clay cylinders 0.385 inch in
any other definite shape• Although this is a diameter and 0.397 inch high. T h e voids in a r

gem reason for using ffan~les, it is not neces-

sarily true that granuhs are to be preferred for
every use. This will be discussed in more detail
bed packed with clay rings 0.385 inch o. d.
0.218 inch i. d. X 0.397 inch high m a y be
calculated as follows:
+" •:~.¢i '•

in a'iater section.
In figures 21 to 23, data are reported that Volume of one cylinder: (0.385)2(0.785)(0.397) --
pertain to some typical granular materials. 0.0461 in. s
Data previously discussed h~dicate that the
physical charac't(ristics of the materials, such s/0.0:t~]~
D ~----~/ ~ 6 =0.446 in.
as shape and surface roughness, have a pro- , ~P
found effect upon pacldng~lensity. As a great D~ 0.446
*,).~
number of granules of different types are in ~,, = 2.--6~ = o . 2 m .
commercial ~{se, it, was impossible t(; investigate : ,?q

many for specific reasons. Examination of the From figure 25, ~=0.440 (Ahmdum cylinder I
~ t
dat~'reveals that the Aloxite particles (fig. 21), curve):
having the ~reatest surface roughness, produce I .
bed of least density. The particle shape factor Solid volume of cylinders in packed columns: (2.067) -~
had bet, l). estimated earlier and accepted as (0.785)(36)(0.56)=67.5 i n )
k~l.10.
aFigurecl, 7,3 slio:::sJhat the A h m d u m particles Void volume: (67.5)(0.44) =,53.0 in. s
0.56
' 'ii
P "~ more thns¢lx in accord with the lesser
surface roughness: No shape-factor measure- Tote.1 cohunn volume: 67.5+53.0=120.5 in. a
ments were made; however, comparison of the , ,1
particles with the sand particles described later N u m b e r of cylinders in packed cohnnns:
suggests an approximate shape factor of X= 1.5. 67.5
. 2he n'ou F]scher-FroDsch catah'st granules 0.0461=1, 470"
j. .~,
had little, if any, sur'face roug]mess. The
qata recorded in figure 22 show that the Assuming that a cohmm packed with rings of
the above dimension also contains 1,470 p~eces, , ::4
.Packin~ density observed with this material
~,much hi~her than the other types of granules.
lie particle shape was very similar to that
then: "el

Volume of one ring: +y,

observed with finely ground'catalyst particles t ~' +%+
and was, therefore, accepted as X----1.73. 0.0461 -- (0.2178)+'(0.785) (0.397) ----0.0313 i n )
•q43247 ~ - - - 5 1 - - 3
t.
<
 2~ FLUID FLOW THROUGH PACKED A_%'D FLUIDIZED SYSTEMS

D~ '=~a / ~V =o.3o3in. TABLE 7.--Voidage functions of variou~

ira,eat{taters
T o t a l s o l i d v o l u m e of r i n g s in p a c k e d column:
( 0 . 0 3 1 3 ) ( 1 4 7 0 ) = 4 6 . 0 in.a ] r a l u e of
Litera-
ture void
Void volume: 1 2 0 . 5 - - 4 6 . = 7 4 . 5 in.a survey Void function
ref. function Authors
74.5 ~-o.
a=~=0.62. 6=0 ~l

From figure 25, curve.f, a=0.59.

20 . . . . . a-4/a co 1 Bakhmeteff and ,
Feodoroff.
W A L L EFFECT 30___ (1--~)'"~
8a ,~ 0 Blake. •
It was pointed out earlier that t.he term a,
the fractional voids, accounts for the wall 39 . . . . . 8-" 1 B r o w n e l l a n d Ka~z.
,,ffect. That this is correct is shown by figure
25, as follows: It is known that the loosest 34. . . . - (~-~P-"
~a 0 Bm'ke and Plumme£: :
i

packing of uniform spheres is the cubical

arrangement (~=0.4764); however, a in figure 36 . . . . . (1--~)Lz 0 Carman.
25 is larger than 0.4764 for values of D~/Dt 6a
larger than 0.34. The reason for this is that
the wall effect causes the packing density near 16 . . . . . a-2 co 1 Chalmers et al, ,
the container wall to be smaller than that found 5..... 6 01 1
in the center of the tube. Dupuit.
24 . . . . (l--a)3 1 0 Happel, ',
LIMITS OF VOID FUNCTION
37 . . . . (1 --a) 3-,,
6a ¢o 0 Hatch,
Comparison of various pressure-drop correla-
tions indicates that a general agreement exists 21 . . . . . a" 0 1 Hatfield.
as far as effect, of most variables upon pressure
drop is concerned. However, agreement con- 38 . . . . . a-l,r 1 Oman and Watson;
cerning the influence of the effect, of the voids,
, '~ • I)
hre most significant, variable, upon the pressure
to the continuity of their flmction chosen, andS:

li
op is feast apparent. For comparison, the
' ! void functions used by a few investigators are especially extension to high values of porosity~:
listed in table 7. The work of Happel a2 represents a compre~:
According to publications listed in footnotes hensive study of the variables involved in the:
16, 20, 30, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, Oll pages 4 to 6 pressure drop encountered in moving beds of:.
the pressure drop approaches infinity in beds the type used in Thermofor catalytic crae'ldng
of ~--0. This would indicate that a bed of zero units" as well as in pebble heaters and similar':
voidage is impermeable to fluid flow. Publi- equipment. His void function reduces to th0"
cations in footnotes 24, 30, 34, 36, and 37 on finite value of 1.0 for 8=0, a result- that is hotel
pages 5 and 6, on the other hand, suggest zero readily visualized from experience. Neverbhe,:
pressure drop for ~=1.0. As this is not possi- less, Happel achieved a y e w good correlation)
ble, it appears that pressure drop through of his data despite the fact that the expressioh:
packed cohmms should be considered as the does not include a shape factor. Voidages ini
sun3 of the pressure drop through the packing the various beds ranged between 32.7 and 49.2?
and the pressm'e drop caused by the pipe wall. percent and were chiefly the result of using)
In actual practice, however, the component of various shapes of particles, rather than co.m.-~
the pressure drop caused by the pipe wall is so pacting beds of the same particles. For this~
small that_ it may generally be disregarded. reason, it seems doubtful whether the results~
~everal other correlations suggest that unity of Happel will be applicable to beds of substan-?
pressure drop results for ~=1.0, a result not tially different voidage than that stated above.,
readily conceivable. The correlation advanced SADDLES
by Bl:ownell and Katz so has been developed in
such a manner that at the condition ~=1.0 the No.attempt has been made to correlate void-)
pressure drop is reduced to that of the empty ages m beds composed of saddles and various?~
i pipe; Lap ple a~ has expressed some doubt as types of special rings. The percentage voidS:I
3~Work cited in footnote 39, p. 6. for Berl saddles is higher than for most con-,
, j ~z Lapple, C. E. Discussion of paper "Flow of Flu ds Through Pozous
Media. I : Chem. Eng. Progress, vol. 43, 1947, pp. 537-548.
3~-Work cited in footnote 24, p. 5. ",,

/ )

/tJ
 PRESSURE DROP TIIROUGI-I PACKED TUBES~ T U R B U L E N T F L O W 29
liiit
ventiona] packing materials; consequently, the l--a = 0.72____~4__0.732.
1--
wall ~,tre(.t should be less pronounced for a a3 0.724 ~
pack,'d cohmm made up of Berl saddles than Modified Reynolds number:
for a cohmm consisting of other particles. For
this ~eason. ~oids in such beds may be esti- G (48.8) (144)
mated satisfactorily f r o m m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s d a t a . = (1~5)=8,150 lb. hr. -~ ft. -~ It
.I [.
J
SAMPLE CALCULATION Re-= (8150)(0.350) =5,450. iIl
(12) (0.018) (2.42) I .. i.'
Brass rings have been dumped into a 1-inch
standard pipe, and air is passed through the F r o m figure 25, f = 0 . 7 2 5 (curve for s m o o t h particles). m ,i p
' ) ,',
apparatus. Find the pressure drop across the Shape factor:
unit for the following operating conditions: 'I
A ~I
F r o m page 16, X=0.205 ~r 2/a" (,I,
Brass rings:
O. D . = 0.375 in. l,l
For the brass rings:
I. D . = 0.250 in.
0.857 ^ ^^
':/
Height = 0.375 in. X=0.205 (0~2--ff~pTs=~.zu,
Vessel: Xm=2.38.
D t = 0.0872 ft.
Packing height, L = 0.873 ft. Density: J 't

As the pressure drop will be small, calculate

Air"
p on the basis of the inlet pressure.
Temperature= 75 ° F. ;.d
. Inlet pressure = 15.5 p.s.i.a. (29) (492) (15.5) ....
p= ( ~ ) ........ lb./ft)
l, I. i'
Rate= 48.8 lb./hr.
Calculations: Pressure drop
Ili~g velum,' = (0.375~--0.250 -~)(0.785) (0.375) = 0 . 0 2 2 7 Ap = (0.0139) (0.725) ((8.15)'~(l 0)" (2.38) (0.732) (12) =
in .a (0.350) (0.0784) (4.18) (108)
.:i ~
Diameter of e q m v a l e n t volume s p h e r e = 1.21 p. s. i./ft.
D 3/(0.0227)(6) 0 350
~'='V ~ = . in.
COMPARISON BETWEEN TOWER PACKINGS
Voids:
BED-CHARACTERIZATION FACTOR • 11,i.;Oi
First find the voids for a solid cylinder of
d i a m e t e r = 0 . 3 7 5 in. and h e i g h t = 0 . 3 7 5 in. From g design point, of view it is desirable to ' r i~ '

Cylinder volume= (0.375): (0.785) (0.375) =0.0411 in. a have a method for comparing characteristics
D'iameter of equivalent volume sphere= of various packings withou~ resorting to
experimental work. With the introduction of
D ~ , = ~a/~O.0411)
-~- (0) = 0 . 4 3 0 in.;
a few simplifications, equation (14) may be
/
used for such an analysis. , ,' ~i:i
As the shape factor of particles likely to be
D~ 0.430 used with equation (14) ranges between 1 r t
-~, = .l ~ = 0 - 4 1 0 ; T
(for spheres) and 3 (for some saddles), a
from curve d of figure 25, a = 0.50; maximum error of only 6 percent is introduced t :

into the equation by modifying it to read:

v(,lume of packed c o l u m n = (1.049)~ (0.785) (10.5)=9.04
i11.3 Ap_.._2.12.f G~-Lx(1--a) (m)
s~,li,1 v-hmm (,f cvlinders in packed column=(9.04) D ~,gcpa3
(1 0 0 - 0.50) = 4..52 in. a t,t
4 52 F i g u r e 10 shows t h a t , for the t u r b u l e n t r a n g e r.~, ~'I
l|lllll])or t,f cylinders in packed c o l u m n = ~ - 1 = 110. covered b y equation (21), m o d e r a t e v a r i a t i o n s
in R e y n o f d s n u m b e r s affect the m a g n i t u d e of l .I'
• As.~mning that a column packed with brass f only insignificantly. E q u a t i o n (21) m a y
rings also contains 110 pieces, the t h e r e f o r e be w r i t t e n in the form:
so,lid v,~lume of r i n g s = (110) (0.0227) = 2 . 5 0 i n ) G-~Lk(1--a)
AP~c , (22) ,1
p D,,az
flu" bed l a c k e d with rings---- 9-04--2.50=0.724
9.04 .
where c is an experimental c o n s t a n t .
 i/ i

30 FLUID F L O W TI-IROUGI-I P A C K E D A X D FLUIDIZED SYSTE~¢IS

dl,

(1--3 a) by 3, one
Designating ~ b ~y e ' a n d ZkDpa /3 (2.32) (0.32)
= (0.925) (0.3135=2.56
may write:
V p = (1,042) (0.415) =433 in)
/XP oc¢'3. ,22a)
A p = (1,042) (6.29) =6,570 in)
As 3 is a function of the packing material
and the apparatus dimensions only and had no The above data for rings may also be approx.
effect upon the flow factor, ¢', it has been !mated by starting from solid cylinders 1 inch
termed the bed-characterization factor. The m diameter and 1 inch high. For the cylinder,
new concept is especially convenient as a
criterion for tower-packing performance. It is and D~= 1.148,
desirable in this connection to let L----unity,
because it enters the pressure-drop equation D~ 1 148
=0.0957.
as a multiplier only. The bed-characterization
factor will be use}l to compare Raschig rings,
Berl saddles, and Lessing rings. Table 8 From curve "e" of figure 25,
lists characteristics of the packing elements as a=0.365.
reported by the manufacturer (I~fight-Ware). Then,
TABLE &--Packing characteristics oAt Raschig N=.(0.635) (0.785) (1,728) 1,100
rings, Berl saddle.~, and Zessing rings, as 0.785 --= •
reported by the man?4facturer
For a standard ~aschig ring do=h=1 inch
and d~=0.75 inch, I. p= (1) (1-0.56)-----0.44 inch?
R'umberi Frac- I Surfac e Assuming 1,100 rings in the vessel,
Packing i ofpiecesl tional [
per ft), voids ] . a r e a ,
dumpe____~dl(a.._._~) I_ It" In;" a = (1,728) (0.785)-- (1,100) (0 44) 0
(1,728) (0.785) " = •645.
Raschig rings:
~.................. A=6.188 in.2
88, 000 220
10, 700 114 D~= 0.945 in.
1 ................. 1; 330 : 68 58
1~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380 68
Berl saddles:
• 36 k----2.19;/3----3.08,
~.................. 113, 000 274
17, 600
. 58
V p = 4 8 4 ; A p = 6,800.
. 60 155
I .................. 2, 300 • 69 79
I,~4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69O • 70 52 For 1-inch Berl saddles:
Lessing rings:
1 .................. 1, 300
I~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 69 N = (2,300) (0•785) =1,810
650 • 62 53
1~ ................ 350 . 60 40 A - - (79) (144) =4.95
150 . 68 32 --" 2,300 in'2
1 Nominal size, inches. V ~ = (0.31) (1,728)=0.233 in.3
2,300
Assuming a cylindrical vessel 12 inches in
diameter and 12 inches high, then for 1-inch ) (6)=0.765
Raschig rings:
N = (1,330) (0.785) = 1,042 X_(0.205) (4.95) o ~Q
.... (0.233)0/3 . . . . .
A =(0•58)(144) 6 29
1,330 ----- " in'2 3 (0.31) (2.68) ,, ,,,
= (0.69) 3(0.765) =o.o±
V , - - (0.32) ( 1,728 )
1,330 =0.415 in. a Vp---- (1,810) (0.233) ----421 in)

Dv 3/(0.415) (6) A p = (1,810) (4.95) ----8,770 in3

=~ ~ =0.925 in•
The calculations for the other packings were
0.29 made in the same manner. A summary of the
k=(0.205) ~0.415).va =2.32
calculated results appears in table 9.

f
 ,:i

PRESSURE DROP THROUGI-I PACKED TUBES~ TURBULENT F L O W 31

;'I/
Tam+E 9.- Particle a,M bed characteristics for towers, packed Raschig rin.gs, Berl saddles,
and £essing rings i

(TI'RB I'LENT FLOW

N o m i m f l sizo. N A! D~, X Ap, Ve. +.1+, I

sq. m . in. sq. in• cu• in• s q . in. eu. in.
inches Cll. )n.

lla~chig rings"
~:+. . . . . . . . . . . .
~..........
(+9, 000
s. 4oo ~.• 360
535
0•0094
•0756
0•236
• 526
1.65
1.75
0• 52 2 4 . 0
• 53 10• 6
24,
12,
900
930
652
686
1,
1,
040
200
27. 2
60. 0 +

1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,042 6. 29 • 415 • 925 2. 32 68 i 2. 56 6, 570 433 2, 560 170

6, 800 484 2, 190 156 ; 't
1 ~. . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 100 • 440 • 944 2. 19
i~: 19 65 2o:
68 10
31 60 4, 070 432 2, 540 270
1!~ . . . . . . . . . . 299 65 1. 455 1.405 2•19
Berl satldle~: 1, 530 27• 8 1' ~ II] t
q ............ 88. 500 •0064 .231 2•07 58 •4 31, 100 570
i 13, 800 .422' 2•24 6019.9 17, 600 544 1,790 55• 0

10!
i~ .0393 |,I
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,810 • 233 • 765 2. 68 69 3. 31 8, 770 421 2, 650 128
1~--- ........ ~ 542 • 750 1.13 2. 71 70 .11 5, 910 406 2, 810 193
: i l.~;t
I,essing r i n g s : i 2, 350 139
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,020 7. 64 • 452 • 953 2•67 • 66 3.31 7, 790 461
11.77 1.008 1•243 2.43 62 3 10 6, 000 514 1, 930 166
1~4/ ........ ' 510 212
]!~: 3.~o 16. 1. 975 1.558 2.17 60 2:57 4, 545 544 1, 770
2............. 150 30. 3. 69 1.92] I z 67 68 1.40 3, 625 4351 2, 590 311
i -
$ !¢

Voidace dale v s +,i m a h , , l from cylinders, using fig• 25.

• 4+ ....
VOLUME AND SURFACE-AREA CHARACTERISTICS is related to channeling and will be discussed !+' ,:I~ P
in greater detail in connection with fluidizMion. l+' I + I ,d~ ~l ' 151 l+ l
Table 9 introduces two new concepts--the While this cause of inefficiency m a y be largely + + +" "II+ +1
+ p .....
volume characteristic, ~++. and the surface area overcome by loading the vessel carefully, there
characteristic. A~, of a packing. By definition: are other more inherent reasons w h y certain
portions of packed beds are less effective than
,.,
++++
' ! +l{t

V~= IrP. (23) others• Thus, iS+ is conceivable t h a t with

fl
certain types of rings of very small internal l

diameter, the inside area is less effective in an : .': '~+ +('

Ap (24)
operation because of the comparative ease of + ,. sIP %
blocking. Taking this into consideration, it, , +~
+i +i+,.+
llt4

These concepts are more significant than fl appears that true characteristic volumes and
I. ~ ,III
alone for comparing tower packings with each surfaces should be defined by I I i'/, ~i, ,
other. Dependin~ on whether the~surface area
or the solid voh[me is of importance in the V,= Vp
~G (25)
operation, the comparison should be made on and Ilg i
the basis of A~ or I~, respectively. ' + +1+ +

Results in the table show that, for comparable Ao= 7+.b., G, (26) T : +I++'+

• I I'
sizes, the Berl saddles have higher vahtes of A+ , i ..', d:"[
tlmn either Ras(.hig or Lessing rings. This in- where k~ and k, are constants pertaining to the
tricates that for the three packings constdered individual packing elements and denoting the i ',I0
the saddles offer the least, pressm'e drop for a fl'action of the packing that is effective. The • +ll~t

gtven surface area. On the other hand, com- constants are dependent on bed configm'ation • •*d , i t l
Parison of ~++ values indicates that the saddles and earn only be determined experimentally.
will provide the least mass inside the tower for a Pressm'e-drop observations through conven-
r°mparable pressure drop. These propertries tional Raschig rings have indicated that the i + :~I? *

! :•+ s• , " • !: ring interior is apparently no less effective , 11; ~I+4

i;++ .,.+,
than the inter-particle voids, and therefore,
": +I.+'
for rings, one m a y assume t h a t k ~ = k , , = l . tr':, '-~ +++ .....
For more complex packings, such as certain I jt i,II+ +

reat!ors, it ts known that. the entire charge types of partition rings, the constants are ] , tl+ |

~t .the vessel is not always effective in the probably considerably smaller than unity. + .+!F!
,es}red operation. Frerlhently, because of
~nlty char+in~ of the vessels, brid~ing of the RELATIVE PACKING EFFICIENCY ;++ + P[
packin~
th ~ -? occurs, and the fimds,
~, e lemtnts "• "
using
~ e Path of least flox¥ resistance, bypass the Comparison of A~ and Vc values of one
enser portions of the bed. This phenomenon packing with those of another suggests the ++; ' T !
• ++,,,.+,
[ '. al*,
 32 FLUID F L O W THROUGH PACKED A N D FLUIDIZED SYSTEMS

introduction of a term for relative packing

efficiency. Thus, with reference to surface area: the unit have to be charged with catalyst of the
same size if the operation is to proceed at the
same space velocity that was employed in the
g
~ o (AA-.)~
=~, (27) exploratory unit?
E , o =( V~ ,
okd =
(2s)
SOLUTION

Hydrogen density:
where subscripts x and y refer to the less
(2) (492) .....
efficient and more efficient packing, respectively. P----(359) (530)----u'uu°~ ib./ft)
SPACE VELOCITY
Reactor cross-sectional area: 0.001326 f~.=
It has become customary in catalytic process IVfass velocity:
development to describe the feed rate of G=(1"10) (0.0052) ~Q~
fluid (gas, vapor, or liquid) into a reactor in 0.001326 ----=.,,, lb. hr.-1 ft.-2
terms of space velocity. In English units,
space velocity is defined as the mmlber of Space velocity:
cubic feet of the feed per cubic foot of catalyst
per hem'. The term "cubic foot of catalyst" (4.81) (12) . . . .
refers to 1 cubic foot of reactor volume "filled = h o ) (0.0052)=',""""
with catalyst.," not taking into account packing
density. "The concept m a y be expressed by Mass velocity in large unit:
the simple equation:
G-- (110) (0.0052)
~=__a
Lp" (29)
--' 0.0233 =24.5 lb. hr.-~ ft.-2.

According to equation (29),

An improved definition, which compensates
for packing density, is given by: 24.5
L---- (1,000) (0.0052) =4.72 lb.
~ ~
G o
Lp ( 1 -- 8) (30)
In order to use equation (30), the respective
Depending on whether the reaction proceeds bed voidages m u s t be found first.
chiefly on the outside surface or in the interior
iI:, of the catalyst, a somewhat more exact defini-
F r o m figure 26, X=1.145 for the cylinders
under consideration. The effective particle
tion of space velocity is possible: diameter:
G 3x (3) ( 1 . 1 4 5 ) . . . .
S----Lp (1 --8) k,, (31) D
~:/1
.---1~= (8+16) = u . l ~ in.
for surface reactions and
1.22
Lp ( 1- 8)k. (32) A-" 0.757e 2/3(½ h)
-dc
for reactions proceeding in the catalyst interior. dc
Because /:, and k~ are close to unity for care-
fully packed reactors, equations (3f) and (32) 0
I--
reduce to the form" of equation (30). The 0
following calculation will show the magnitude 1.18
of error that may be involved in the design of
reactors if the definition of space velocity as
0..
"r
/
given by equation (29) is used.
A Fischer-Tropsch catalsst was reduced by 1.16 /
means of hydrogen at 450 ° C. A 0.375-inch
standard pipe packed to a depth of 10 inches
with ahmdumlike cylindrical pellets (h=d----
0.125 inch) was used as a reactor, and the inlet
0
1.14
0.5 1.0
J 1.5 2.0
gas rate was 1.100 standard ft2/hr. A larger HEIGHT; DIAMETER RATIO OF CYLINDER a
unit, using 110 ft.3/hr, of hydrogen, is to be in- FIGVRE 26.--SIIAPE FACTOI~ IN RELA-
s!ailed, and it has been deck led to use a 2-inch TION TO T-TET~T-Tq ~- T'ITh ~ r ' ~ m ~ D 1) A m T r ~
 PRESSURE D R O P THROUG/::I P A C K E D TUBES~ TURBULENT FLOW 33
'l

For the cxl}lora tory unit, Consider a solid cylinder of length h, diameter
do----2~, and h/d~=:a. Then,
~Dv
= ~ =0.143
u . z u , ^ ^^ 1 ¢

and from figure 25, era're e, ~=0.482. For the Dv 6V~ 6~d h ,I t
II
large tube, 4
Dv 0.143 ....
~d___£(do+2h) ,, ?
X 2 d~4.2h iF 1 , 2-]
(33)
Dv 3~d.......~
(d~h) = ~g23rd~= g L ~ u E J "
and ~t= {1.355. i
2

Using cqmHion (30), t h e t r u e s p a c e v e l o c i t y Also, , ~i

i

(4.311 (12)
S - - ( l O ) (0.0052) ( 1 - o . 4 8 2 } =1,92o,
0.205 2~'d°-t-d¢h I i, ~ i
it
X=0.205 V :;---4 - [ ~ d j h T "~---~ '
and again using the equation, L4 d •

24.5
L = (i)~20)-(0.0052) (1 -- 0.355)
= 3 . 8 2 ft. which reduces to: ,4
1 1 i

The error introduced into the calculations by X=0.757 a-V~ [~-fT, ] • (33a)
using {,quatiun (29) amounts to
(4.72--3.82) (I00) = 2 3 . 6 percent. In figure 26, shape factors for cylinders have
3.82 been plotted in relation to the height/diameter
ratio. I t is observed that, the curve passes
This error m a y become sul)stantially larger for through a minimum at a----1, a condition that is
different pack{rig materials and greater scale-up easily predicted b y the conventional methods of
ratios. calculus.
Because the height and the diameter are
CYLINDERS, SPHERES, A N D ~RANULES lmo~n~ for mos~ cylindrical pellets, the curve in
The catah-st shapes most fl'equently used in figure 26, in combination with equation (33),
industrial ~-ol'k are cylinders, spheres, and offers u rapid method of art'L-ing ~t the eqmv-
P ,~t
granuh, s. Although, as will be seen later, these aleng particle diameter.
shapt,s do not offer such favorable conditions Tables 10, 11, and 12 list the calculated data • 1,4 }
. P ,.r
as do rings mr Berl saddles the cost of their pertaining to beds of cylinders, spheres, and t p..
granules. I n all three cases the vessel chosen 0"]
preparation is smaller, and they exhibit con-
sidtrably great er mechanical strength. was 3 inches I. D. and was packed to a depth of
'"11 !
1 foog in such a manner thag the voidages re-
CYLINDERS ported in figure 25 applied to the systems. The ,,;i
k surface of the materials was assumed to be 1
Ca]cu]ationof k and ~ ratio. smooth.
i •

T.~LE lO.--Calculated data for cylinders 'i

DilllerlSiOllS, D v,
Dv/D& N ~q. in.
V~., Ap~ Tp, j:Ap_.4o ----ct
inches inch cu. in. sq. in. cu. ill.
sq. I ~. CU. i l l .
i :ij
l,, ",2"1,
i
[',%, 1,~. . . . 0. 0715 0. 0238 0. 320 301,000 0001918'3, 980 57.3 [ 1.396 0.0145
sXl~ . . . . . 113 0477 . 330 37,050 001532 11,786 i2,735 56.8 1.530 0318 , i!
"iXh ')St.' 0953 340 4,500 01226 ! 810 1,348 55.9 I 1. 664 0692
,8R, ~ 4o9 143 360 1,312 633 0414 439 830 54.3 ~ 1.888 1240 i ~ ,
~i',": ! .......... 5005 1668 368 814 903 0659 349 ~ 734 s 53.5 2. I00 1537
1907 377 538 I. 178 09813 282 634 52.9 2.25 1875

,A,, . . . . . . . . 8o8
2383
286
400
429
265
146
~. 842
.643
1917
331
182. 48.
116. o I 386
5O. 8
48.3 i
2. 68
3.32
2785
4148
,'(~
 duc
is i
np,
inches i D~/Dt a .V A~
sq.!n,
I~,
cu.m. fl
Ap~
sq. i n .
Yp~
cu. in.
-'• Ao
Ire
y=v~, bed
bed
s q . in. eli.

i
ill.
eitl
C
,.150 . . . . . . . . . : 0. 05 0.345 31,450 0. 0 7 0 6 0.00177 1, 28~ 2,222 55. 7 1. 728 0. 043
.30 . . . . . . . . . 10 .368 3. 802 • 2826, 01412 50fi 11,076 lira.
53. 8 2. 12 • 106
•525 . . . . . . . 175 • 400 671 864 ~ 1 " 0 7 5 8 214 579 50. 9 2.70 • 23~ 28,
.81 . . . . . . . . . . 270 • 442 170 1 2 . O7 ~2775 96 352 47. 3 3. 67 • 403 pac
.02 . . . . . . . . . . . 340 • 473 81 1 3 . 26 .5545 58.8 264 44. 9 49 • 76~ tiel,
26 . . . . . . . . . . . . 420 • 522 42 ' 5 . O0 1. 048 31.9 210 43. 9 6.58 1. 380
.44 . . . . . . . . . . . i .480 .538 25 6.50 il. 57 24. 6 162. 5 39. 3 6. 60 1. 59
of a
yah
As
not
TABs~. 12.--Calculated data for magnetite granules to .
1 I are.
dec
D~.
inches
r DI/Dt
V A7
sq. zn.
Ir~.,
ell. In.
Ap~
sq. in.
Vp,
cu. in. i
~=A,, --~= , pul
I sq. in. cu. in. cob
pro,
3.15 .......... 0. 05 ). 443 26, 675 0.1223 0.00177 888 3, 208 47. 3 3. 68
pea
O. 053~
.30 . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 • 477 3, 135 .4898 .01412 334 1, 537 44. 2 i 4. 60 .132~
.525 . . . . . . . . . • 175 • 491 570 1.495 .0758 170 853 43.3i 5.01 • 254
.81 . . . . . . . . . . . • 270 • 508 150 3.58 .2775 96. 6 537 41. 6 5. 55 • 430 nla
[ .02 . . . . . . . . . . . • 340 : .517 74 5. 64 .5545 71.5 417 I 5. 82
t
41. 0 • 572 aft,
I

Si,mificant data for the three pacldngs are This is directly related to the particle shape
sho£~?n graphically in figures 27 and 28. From factor of the materials; that is, granules, X= 1.73;
figure 27 relating~total bed surfaces and volumes cylinders, X=1.145; and spheres, X=l.00. As
to the ratio of pacldng to vessel diameter, it far as volume of packing material is concerned,
appears that the bed composed of granules has the cylinders are most effective, spheres are
the greatest surface. The cylindrical bed has
a somewhat smaller surface, and the spheres 6.0 Refer to fables I 0 , ~ 1•2
exhibit the least surface of all the materials. II a n d 12

6,000 ,
Refer to tables I0, II and 12 5.0 ~ ' / J Ac I•0
• -- Iron F i s c h e r - T r o p s c h
5,000
t /
---'~-----
I catalyst gronutes.
0 - - Cylinders r
• - - Spheres
4.0 / /Vc 0.8

4,000 • SO
- Ac
piI
2 3.0 .6 >o th~
-- B .Vp dolo ex;
3,o00 I 50 - fo]
o
o~ //'~°Pc .4
o
o_ 2 , 0 0 0 :° &
,~ 40 >
all
I•0 1 .2
pr
l,OOO- - ~ ~ - F(
A-Apdolo
th
A 0 0.I O.Z 0.5 ~Q.4: ~h
o Op
0 0.I 0.2 0.5 0.4
DO DI
Oz
 P R E S S U R E D~ROP T H R O U G H PACKED TUBES, T U R B U L E N T FLOW 35 ' 'i!! :b,! "
,
~
'~1~,
~ll I

second most effective, and the granules pro- With rougher materials such as aluadum o1"
duce a bed of least density. This characteristic clay, the friction factor,
is in line with the voidages of the individual
beds. Figure 25 indicates that the granular I=2.025 (-D~) -°'~. (i6)
beds have a considerably higher voidage th~n
either spheres or cylinders.
Comparison of characteristic areas and vol- For still rougher partich, s,. for example, Aloxite
umes shouhl be very significant. In fi~ure or .~[gO granules,
2S, values of A~ and ~,~ have been show~l- for
packing materials in their relation to the par- I= 4.00 (~--~) -°'~• (i7)
tide/tube-diameter ratio. The positive slope
of all the curves indicates that both A¢ and I~
values increase with increasing D~/D, ratio. Thus, by selecting the proper friction factor
As far as 1"~ is concerned, the three packings do for each material, the validity of the equation JU

not differ much from each other. With respect has been extended to materials of different
to A~, however, it appe~rs that the granules degrees of surface roughness. An absolute
are, by far, th~ most efficient packing. To measure of roughness has been proposed by
decide which mate rial is best, suited for a specific expressing the property by t h e ratio e/r~,
purpose, valu~:~ of Ae, ~ , A~, and ~ must be where e is the height of the protuberances on
eons!~!ered together in their relation to the the particle surface, and r~ is the effective pa~:- °1 ....

proc¢ss. From the analysis presented, it ap- ticle diameter. As roughness specifications are
pears that the granules are preferable to both not available from manufacturers' data, how- , ,'!]

spheres or ex-linders. ever, a correlation between/and e/r~was not pos-

Values of'A~ and l~ in tables 10, 11, and 12 sible, and the problem could only be dealt with
may readily be compared with those in table 9 descriptively. :;2;.
after the latter have been divided by One of the major factors in detecting the
effect of roughness was an understanding of the
i
effect of the voids upon the pressure drop. bj
'~ i]!!~
Experimental data reve~led that a small varia- |I~I~
(because the data in the hitter table are based tion in voids, for example, 40 to 43 percent, in-
on ~ 12-inch diameter vessel). Such a com- fluences the pressure drop by as much as 23
parison indicates that rings and saddles are percent. The range of voids (35 to 70 percent)
etter than cylinders, spheres, or granules in pertaining to the experimental data upon which
every respect. Their use in catalysis, how- the equations are based was covered by the
ever, is curtailed because of the comparatively function
high eost of their production. Furthermore, (i-~)
these packings have l~ss mcchalfical strength , ,/

than cylinders, sphere,s, or granules, another

major factor to be considered in the choice of with very good results. Despite the variation
a packing. of D~/D, (from 0.047 for MgO granules to 0.615
for porcelain balls), no wall-effect factor is
SUMMARY required to use the equation. I t is believed , * ~i = =

that wall effect is accounted for if the total

From an analogy of l~ow through empty voids are substituted into the equation. The
pipes, an equation Was derived applying to flow equation contains a shape factor that accounts '' ;/t
through pa~:ked tubes. After evaluation of the for the effect of packing surface upon the pres-
t t ~|m ,,

~xperimental constants, the equation had the sm'e drop. By derivation, shape factor ; i
0rill:
AP=2- " 12.fG ~ XL ( 1 - - ~ ) , (21) A
X=0.205 ~ . (9) ,t!iti,
• ii ~l!t
and the influence of each variable upon the The usefulness of the concept became apparent • YlI'I
essure drop was experimentally established. tln'ou'~l the application of the equation to beds • !J~'

!i
or smooth particles such as glass or porcelain,
e modified fl'ietion factor, fi was given by
e relat ion:
/ = 1.75 (-D-~) -°'' • (18)
of sph~'es, c~:lindel's, rings, Bed saddles, and
granules. Without the shape factor in the
quation, predicted values of pressure drop for
differently shaped particles would vary by
I r! If!
~1~

several hundred percent.

:'
ilit,
~h!'

; I tit t

i ,
 ! ,: ]

!!
i I

36 FLUID FLOW THROUGI-I PACKED AND FLI/IDIZED SYSTE~IS

i A separate study was undertaken to develop
estimation of surface areas in packed tOWers.

!) a correlation of voids in packed tubes. A

l
simple correlation between 6 and D~,/Dt was Finally, an analysis of the equation showed
found possible for the various shapes investigat- that it may be used directly to predict the
ed. This development is important, because, individual merits of tower packings. In this
without the knowledge of the void content of a connection, a new concept, the bed-character_
packed bed, the usefulness of any pressure- ization factor, was introduced. In combina_
drop correlation would be greatly hampered; tion with surface area and volume of the pacldng,
this correlation has many other applications, bed-characterization factors were found im-
also. For instance, it facilitates prediction of portant as a criterion for comparison of tower
vessel capacities for specific packings and packings.
i

,.i
'rl,

'
t!
!
I

i/,
t
 /

• :,' t

• il,
j ,
PRESSURE DROP THHOU~H PACKED TUBES, VISCOUS FLOW
GENERAL CORRELATION Examination of (37) does not account for the
shape of the particles. Therefore, equation +

In the previous section, it has been demon- (38) suggests that if l o g / - v a l u e s are plotted • I, ¸
strated that equation (5) versus the respective values of
log ~____GG,
D

| +',
applies to turbulent flow through packed tubes a series of straight lines of slope n = - I should ! ,
as ll approaches 2. However, the equation also result. The displacement of the lines from '~+ i'.

covers the viscous flow range if a value of n~-I each other should be a result of the effect of
is used. With this substitution, (5) becomes: shape factor of the packing upon the pressure ,, .. ,L 7t+
drop. From relation
k D~G ~ X~ (1--~) ~ (34)
Ap=~ ~ o D~ s ~s ' ~p cc k~ (36a)
or: and this displacement, the shape factor of the
kG~,X~(1 - ~)~ (35)
various materials m a y be estimated. d i ~.,
Ap= D~gcp~s
D A T ~ AND EQUIPMENT
In (35), Ap has the dimension p.ounds per
square foot per foot. Later extenmon of the Tables 13 to 19 present the keys to figures
equation to fluidization will show that it is 29 to 34. The original data are given in tabLe.¢
more convenient to use the form
~ P = k GL'x~(1-~)~, (36) ~.lo.ooo ;i;;; ;;IIH,'~
D~g~plf 3 o 7,000 ] I ] ]r
: ::::
I I [ r.~
: : :.::: +~ iHiii i • .ip o
il

IIIII :i: :' ',4

where AP now has the dimension pounds per
square foot. Comparing AP in the form of R ~,ooo! /2/f j,'~ .+t'
equation (36) with a modified form of the I~a; ' ....
Fanning equation, m i,ooo t + / .if 'rlILL,, ~ •
; ; b.T~%,_-~
2-

AP = 2"fG~L( l -- 6) 2, (37)
,9 ~ooi ~ , I...,~',',',/.- +,
D~pg~ 3 +-*,
> 400 .,i I I 1,4"1 +.~,--" till '

which may be considered applicable to fluid ,.,' ~

+J Nil /' J: i(
flow through packed sections, it follows that
O*
(-%_', <++
++0 I! ;,'
+ ~oo II J+'

•
'
l
!,A
'
70 /"- /l~ 1-2" rI ;
"~.FI IX k: I ,[L
'~J " X l l V l i ,='---- '' L'~
where C is a constant that must be evaluated ,~ 4o " '+lXi,Pl ! +, ,=

e-xperimentally. Fronl equation (37) it also +m +o IIIII "" :;~ iTJ

appears that
m ,,,v
[O T,r,, , ,+,+
f APD~,p g,~S (37a) 0,04 0.1 0.2 0.4 1,0 2 4 I0 30 , / : ~|
=2G-~L(1--~)~ ' DpG
MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER~

which may be evaluated from experimental FzG~V, 2 9 . - - D O W N FLOW OF GASES THROUGH [P " t 1 +
data. SAND BEDS.
I i.
37
i i' bt

+i: +i

~
'li +~
r
 /
\
38 FLUID FLOW THROUGH PACKED AND FLUIDIZED SYSTERtS
,li

I
i
I I -
J ' -- l--a~

L! I L I~
For key to figure I-I
see toble 14.
~-ie)ol--V I,I I L/ -- --
!
' II i --
] / I I __
I J I
~,.o~
[ i /

r i'i ] ]
I
i [ I ' ] i /
I
~ IIII
o I '1 !~ ' ~,i, -
, ,k! /

:D
i°~- I
---.+--
S"ll
iY/
l . /( ~I" [ l I
I," i . , • _ _

. .H ~/ i

~i!: i ~ 0.. /" I

i

~//:1 ItI ~o,_

4--+-
-d
il ',
li
_

~ig ring.<
---4- t~ • #
,~¢,/,~t' um cylinders
<';

I
0.5
,
,11
~ i ,
I
MODIFIED
- i + , ~ 5,

4
I"" 'rl ii
REYNOLDS
I0
Z I'
NUMBER
DpG I00 500
IJ
FIGURE 30.--DOWN FLOW OF GASES THROUGH VARIOUS ~IATERIALS.

,oc I IIII ,¢,' ' I, F I ;' ~ ;;II "~ ' I I "

• q llii , ,, ~, , ~ ? F

30 ~', , , ~ / , ~"is1"IJ, ''~ l . / IY ~ ' '°

<~ I ' ;" "~x i x i ,~ ,

',r,, ,,. ,,<' / I ",, II , .i l • L

Io ~ " i'I ,..Z- t ~ .... I
ill t.,/., ,./ I V .O'"
/ /r / #" I
i"i 6 -- ' " ~4 i// I I s I"~ '~I/]~ /~# " i I I
4 I
"
/,~
A: !A / " ~>L/, " "
,
Nole - Multiply "G" b)~ II~ I
I
r
I. ,,~ ,

o.~ o.~ o.o ..o

c
I
~ ]I
~ ; i~,~%'~°,~)
, f Ill/
30
o"

I
50 70 lO0
For key 1o figure see

w
200
table 15
, ,,,,I,
~00 l,OOO

FIGURE 31.--PRESSURE DROP THROb'OH ROUND SAND (COUNTER-GRAVITY"

FLOW) IN 2J~-INCH TUBE.

ill
 . t [

I
PRESSURE DROP T H R O U G H P A C K E D TUBES~ YISCO'US F L O W 39 U ,

DI ",q"
.%-.,~ ~- ,-
o, "-,o
.i
/ I L,,rlJ 2
-- !- I //If '?./I .," ~I~
°'
o, ,'Xt,,t" - / ~ " , i
~1 •1 t

/,,,
° / i.~z,~ " • I .

61 I Pr
~" ~o , For key to figure
see loble 17I
'l
~ =:~//x" IXI 1,141>': ,, I IIfIf 0.:~ 0.4 0.7 t.O ~ 3 4 6 8 IO
G (LB PER FTz PER HR)

FIGUI~.~ 34.--PRESSURE DROP THROUGH MIX- !

TURES OF SANDS (COUNTER-GRAVITY I
FLOW)•
~, il'~;~ weight of the sand in the tube, and a l~owledge

-
I ,,fl 7i- i",7
~ 3 5 7 IO ~0 50 50 70 to
of the height of the sand column, the fractional
voids were calculated. The data reported in
~z ' ' '

G (LB. PER T2 PER HR.) table 13 were collected with narrow cuts of I
FIGURE32.-- I'RESSURE DROP THROUGH SHARP sand. The diameter of such a cut was defined p

SANDS IN 2~-INCH TUBE (COUNTER-GRAV-

ITY FLOW).
b.y D~=~d~,
where d~ and d~ are adjacent
d~
t

sieve openings.
The data referred to in table 14 pertain to
larger particles. Unlike the sands of table 13,
the lead shot, glass beads, Raschig rings, and F

cylinders permitted dh'ect calculation of shape

I Z~x_p'#_-a I ~ /i//,,,~ factor, and voids were determined b y immersion
°' tt! ,,~ Vl ,,,7' in water. The flow of the air and helium was
o-- downward.

o-~
8t
• t/ x.~,,i~ I / /
TABLE 13.~Experi~ents with round and sharp
sands in i-inch standard pipe
,~ '2 I
6 ~ 114 Fractional I
--lq ~ , ~ Run Dr, inch voids 6 i IJ
4 -,,

,I,
0.~
I I !II~,~"
0.5 0.7 I.O 2 3 4 6 8 gO 20 ~0 5 0 70 luO a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o. 01505 0.410 'L't
G [LB, PER F ' ~ PER HR) •01505 .354 t
• 01268 •386
FmURZ33.--PRESSURE DROP THROUGH ROUND b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
01268 .350
AND SHARP SANDS IN 4-INCH TUBE 01062 • 414
, ]

(COUNTER-GRA¥ITY FLOW). c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
01062 • 358 , I

d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
00818 •435
V and VI of the appendix. Figure 29 shows 00818 367 I

measuren~cnts made with sands under co- e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

00632 446
00632 381
gravity flow conditions. The apparatus was a 00488 445
f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
l-inct(stamtard pipe carrying a 200-mesh screen 00488 39l
on the lower end. As the flow rates were small, g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 00345 45O
th, pressure drop across the screen could be h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
00264 485
a t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o15o5 486
ne lected in all cases. Air and helium were b t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01268 494
used as iluids to investigate the effect of kine- 01268 431 !1% ,
, r

matic viscosity on the pressure drop. From

the sp,,,.ilic gravity of the sand (2.65), the I '

i
 • ~uiJ) ~'LO~V THROUGI-I P A C K E D A N D FLUIDIZED S Y S T E M S

TABLE 14.--Ex2eriments with lar~./eparticles in 1-inch standard piTe

(DOXVNFLO~,V OF AIR AND HELIrCM) .

Run D~ Shape Fraetiona

inch Material factor, bed voids, Gas Surface
k

0. 0 7 7 9 Lead shot .............

l-b ........... 1.00 0.354 Air ...............
• 0779 ..... do ....... - Smooth.
1-e ........... 1.00 • 354 Helium ............ " b'
0779 ..... do ....... :ZZZZZZZ::~ Do.
l-d ........... 1.00 .382 Air ................ b'
•0779 ..... do ................. Do.
2-a ........... 1.00 • 382 Helium ............. CI
• 143 Glass beads ............. Do.
1.00 .378 Air ................ d'
Do.
3-a ........... • 172 ..... do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •388 ..... do ............. Do• d
1. 0 0 • 405 ..... do ............. f,
Do.
4-a .......... • 391 ..... do .............
• 252 Raschig rings ............ Do. f,
5-a ......... 1.50 • 566 Helium ............. Rough• g'.
5-b ........... • 182
• 182
}Aluudum cylinders ...... 1. 15
1. 15
• 362
362
..... do ........
Air ........... -_-_-:-
Do.
Do. !:
TABLE 15.--Ex veriments with uniform round sands ir~ 2 ~-inch tube

(i: il Run Weight, Static Static

F l u i d i z a t i o n p r e s s u r e d r bp,
Dm inch
gin. height, lb./sq, ft.
fractional Gas
ft. voids, 8
Observed Calculate d

0. 0 1 5 0 5 756 0. 5 0 5 0. 4 2 2 Air ............

ii a-2 ..... • 01505 1, 1 9 3 .784 • 416 ..... do .........
48 49
!i b-I
b-2
.....
.....
• 01268
• 01268
750 .489 • 410 . . . . . do . . . . . . . . .
46
76 77
A
1, 1 5 0 .754 414 . . . . . do ......... 49
b-3 ...... •01268 1, 5 1 1 .980
•
72 75 A
b-4 ..... • 01268 • 408 ..... do ......... B
750 . 489 96 98
b-5 ...... • 01268 • 410 C02 ............ 47 B
I, 1 5 0 .748 .410 ...... do ......... 49
b-6 ...... • 01268 1, 5 1 1 .977 72 75 C
.407 ..... do ......... C
97 98
c-I ..... • 01062 I
874 .584 • 423 Air ............
c-2 ....... • 01062 57 57 I
874 .584 • 423 CO~ . . . . . . . . . . . .
d-1 .....
57 57
.00818 650 .449
d-2 ...... • 444 Air ............
.00818 1, 116 .724 43 42
• 447 ..... do ......... 75
e-] ...... 72
•00632 980 .679
e-2 ....... •00632 • 445 . . . . . do . . . . . . . . .
98O .676 64 64
e--3 . . . . . . . •00632 • 443 C02 ............ 64
980 .669 64
• 436 Helium .........
66 64
f-1 ...... • 00488 557 .394 • 454 Air ............
f-2 ....... •00488 35 36
858 .597 • 445 ..... do .........
f-3 ....... .00488 56 56
858 .590 • 442 C02 ............. 55 56
g-1 ...... •00345 898 .656 • 474 Air__
g-2 ..... •00345 57
g-3 ...... •00345
1, 0 8 0
898
.771
.656
461 .... do-_--::--_-- 69
58
g-4 ...... •00345 • 474 CO2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
1, O80 .77t • 461 Helium .........
h-I ...... •00310 1, 8 6 5 1. 4 7 3 • 5] 1 Air ............
h-2 ...... •00310 ]11 1~
2, 3 7 6 1. 8 9 0 • 516 ..... do .........
h-3 ...... •00310 139 15
2, 3 7 6 1. 8 9 0 • 516 Helium ......... 144 15
i-I ...... • 00290 1, 1 8 5 .920 • 508 Air ............
i-2 ...... .00290 69 7
1, 1 8 5 .920 • 508 Helium: ........ 70 7
• 00202 920 • 793
-2 ....... • 00202 • 550 Air ............
1,339 1. 1 0 8 51 @
-3 ....... •00202 • 533 ..... do ......... 74 9t
1,339 1. 0 9 0 • 528 Helium ......... 76 91

k
 PRESSURE DROP THROUGH PACKED TUBES~ VISCOUS F L O W 41 : +

TABLE 16.--Experiments with uniform sharp sands in. 2'~-fl~ch tube

f gluidization pressure drop,
l b . / s q , ft.
ares!St atic height,l Static frac- l Gas
Run D~, i n c h W e i g h t , gr I feet t i o n a l v o i d s , 6!
rface Observed Calculated

0. 580 0. 500 Air ............ 47 49

0.01268 755 81 82
)0. b'-I ...... 01268 1,255 • 945 490 ___do . . . . . . . . . . .
b'-2 ...... / • 900 510 ___do . . . . . . . . . . . 70 75
)0. 01021 1, 150 }
0 t-1 ...... i • 982 539 ___do. . . . . . . . . . . 70 77
)0. 00818 1, 181 131 142
)0. dl-1 . . . . . . 2, 131 1. 747 520 ___do. . . . . . . . . . .
00818 47 55
)0, d'-2. . . . . . 85O • 742 I 559 __do. . . . . . . . . . .
00488 64 75
)o. f'-I. . . . . . 1, 150 1. ooo1 559 __do . . . . . . . . . . .
f'-2 ...... :
00488 33 41
)o. 00345 630 • 57ol 572 __do . . . . . . . . . . . !
566 ___do . . . . . . . . . . . 56 64
[1. • s681
)0.
++?++...... •00345 981
1,759 1. 5781 570 ___do ........... 101 114
•00345 101 114
)0. •00345 1, 759 1. 578 / 570 Helium .........
• 820 / 578 Air ............ 50 58
h -1 ...... / .00229 9OO
I

i ~+ TABLE 17.--Experiments with uniform round and sharp sands irb 4-inch tube

Fluidization pressure drop,

l b . / s q , ft.
Static height, Static frac- Gas
Run D~,, i n c h Weight., g r a n s feet t i o n a l voids,
Observed Calculated

Round san&
0. 891 0• 4 4 7 Air ............ 80 82
~ A-I ...... 0. 0 1 1 0 0 3, 239 140
5, 508 1. 554 • 458 ___do ........... 140
k-2 ...... 01100 62 63
2, 487 690 453 ___do . . . . . . . . . . .
: B-I . . . . . . 01062 61 63
01062 2, 487 698 457 Helium. . . . . . . . .
B-2 ...... 63 64
00445 2, 545 737 475 Air . . . . . . . . . . . .
i!~ C--1 . . . . . . Helium. . . . . . . . . 63 64
5-2 ...... 00445 2, 545 737 475
786 545 Air . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 60
D-1 ...... 00310 2, 355 60
2, 355 775 538 Helium . . . . . . . . . 58
D-2 ...... 00310 ,~, t+
i
Sharp sands i i"
• 734 0. 550 ?ilr . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 5::
•00715 2, 168 5i
2, 168 • 727 • 548 Helium . . . . . . . . . 53
• 00715 57 6(
B'-I . . . . . 2, 352 • 839 • 574 Air . . . . . . . . . . . . ,!
L
•00458 57 6(
; B'-2 . . . . •00458 2, 352 • 842 • 573 Helium. . . . . . . . . i

• 658 • 537 Air . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 4i 1

C'-I _ •00303 1, 793 9(
3, 541 1. 288 • 573 ___do. . . . . . . . . . . 86 , .~
~+ 0 ' - 2 . . . . • 00303

/..-
i

,i "
 & I

42
FLUID FLOW TI-IROUGI-I P A C K E D AND FLUIDIZED SYSTEMS
TA~L~ 18.~Experiments with
mixed round and sharp sands in '~ "
2/~.-~nch and ~-ineh tUbe~
Run D~, i n c h Weight, grams "c h e i g h t / S t a t i c f r a e -
tee.~t / tional voids, IO.ISq. ft,. ~"J.

-------,----_.______
Ob.~erved C a l c u l a t e d - ,~
IM-I_ _ _ 2}i-inch tube ~ '
0. 0 0 9 4 1,000
1 M-2_ __ 0• 681
.0094 1,000 O. 4 3 7 Air_ _ _
1 M-3_ • 0094 681 57
1,492
•
.437 H e l i u m - ~" . . . . . .
1M-4_ __ • 989 58 65
.0094 1, 4 9 2 .423 Air_ _ -.....
2M-I_ __ • 989 87 65~
•00838 1,000 .423 Heluim:-::- :-:
2M-2_ __ • 675 87 97i:
• 00838 1,000 • 431 Air_ _ _
2M-3_ __ 58
• 00838 1, 5 0 0
• 675 .431 =e]i~m-_:2-_-_-_-_-: 97}
2M-4_ __
•00838 ], 50O
1. 008 • 428 Air .... 58 65 i,
3M-l_.
8~-2__ -
.01163 1, 3 6 2
1. 0 0 8 • 428 I-Ielium- - ...... 87 6~;
• 01163 • 884 • 409 89 ~7"
_. 1, 0 0 0 Air _ - .......
3 M - 3 _
• 01163 • 655 • 414 =eliuml--:----- 79 97
4M-1 _ _ _ 1,000
• 00658 .655 • 414 Air_ 59 88
4M-2_ _ _ 1,000 • 665 58
.00658 1, 9 7 2 • 422 65
1. 2 9 0 • 410
59 65"
..... do ........
116 65
5M-l_ _ _ 4-inch tube 128 :'
•00658 2,975
6M'-l___ • 01346 • 761 / • 406
2,223 ..... do .........
• 675 • 498 ..... do .......... 75 75
58 56

TABLE 19.~Composition of mixed sands

Mixture fr~/~:ght X
Sieve range
/ •
retained by d~, i n c h
sieve range Calculated
d~X / D~, i n c h ~
d
i, I , 1M_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
0• 5 0
0. 0 1 1 6 - 0 . 0 0 9 7 0. 0 1 0 6 2
• 50 0. 0 0 5 3 1
2M_ _ _
• 0097- • 0069 • 00818
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .z . . . . • 00409 0. 00940
• 333
• 0116- •0097 • 01062
• 333 • 00354
• 0097- . 0069 • 00818
• 333 • 00273
3.A[. _ • 0069- . 0058 •00632 • 00838
• 00211
• 25
• 0164- • 0138 . 01505
• 25
• 0138- . 0116 • 0]268 • 00376
I,l : i • 25 • 00317
0116- 0097 • 01062
°!'i I
• 25
• 0097-• 0069 • 00818 •00266 .01163
4~[ a n d 5~I ....................... • 00204
• 20
• 0116- • 0097 •01062
• 20
• 0097- .0069 •00818 • 00212
i!:l • 20 • 00164
• 0069- . 0058 • 00632
• 20
• 0058- . 0041 •00488 • 00126 .00658
• 20
.0035- •0024 • 00290 •00098
6M'_ .............................. • 00058
• 25
I, • 0195- . 0164 • 01790
• 25
• 0164- • 0138 •01505 • 00448
• 25
• 0138- • 0116 •01268 •00376
i ' • 25
• 0097- . 0069 • 00818 •00318 • 01346
•00204

Tables 15 to 19 refer to data observed with

round and sharp sands during fluidization r t m s . cussed in greater detail in connection with
The. gases were passed upward tln'ough columns fluidization• The equipment for these tests is
of the various sands. The range of flows during illustrated in flgm'e 51.
these experiments was wide enough to expand
and fluidize the beds• However, for the pur- CORHELATION OF BESULTS
l?ig•ure 29 shows Ap (lb. ft. -~ ft.-') corrected
ino. v.~ , " ~ • ain limit- to 40-percent voids in relation to the modified
Ti~- .,:!u.%(G~s) o n l y should be considere . Reynolds number• Logarithmic coordinates
e sl~nmcance o~ the concept G,~I will be di d. were used, and the data refer to the sands
mentioned in table 13; the correction to the
i,
/ij '
 ~+: Iti
I
PRESSURE DROP THROUGH PACKED TUBES, VISCOL'S FLOW . 43

standard voidage was made hy using the and viscous range. ~'igul'es 31 to 33, showing
relation data• orighmlly collected in connection with .i
A (l_a)~ fluidization, are susceptible to a pressure-drop
analysis as long as no bed expansion is experi-
enced. Proportional coordinates were used,
and the value of this relation cat] be seen from and the slope was found equal to unity, an
II ....

the results obtained. Run a in figure 29, for indication of viscous flow. Figure 34 shows • IF~
instance, was made with the same sand com- data observed with mixtures of sand; the com-
pacted to a voidage of 41.0 percent for one position of the mixture is given in table 18. ul :

I
experiment and 35.4 percent for another. A .ks indicated earlier for turbulent flow, the . F,
,IJ

decrease in voids from 41.0 to 35.4 percent will composite diameter of a mixture of sand was
calculated by
applsin+ the above relation, ~,ood a g l ' e e l r t e n t £'=Z

b)t'~:een the loosely and densely packed bed D==~'~, (Xd~,)z" (39)
runs resulted. The slope of all the lines is ( + 1) Z=I

a characteristic of viscous flow.

In figure 30, log ~p has been shown in relation Modified friction factors calculated from all I~.1

to the data have been plotted in figure 35, which

(D,,G also incorporates the data of figures 10 and 14.
IJ'~,
]o~ - 7 ) Considerh~g the viscous range omv. it appears
that the friction factors ori~" a u n ~ from glass i
spheres and lead shot, are the lowest. By
The curvature of the lines indicates that the
flow was intermediate between the turbulent incorporating proper shape factors into the ,! J',l
i'

......... ~,,~ i,,::: i !. '" li i ....... ~;~;~

" II
a'~ I \ 1 : : :::: I I IIIIII "~11111 I ::::::
1 I%11-J. :; I I !!!!!! I II II I IIIIII i ,:~,:,:,:,: .
•'
11
IIi~

,' ' -'" " xL.,;: :: ::: i, ::::: I I IIIIII II1 II I IIIill I i
' ..: m~'

io"
..... , + + ,, i iiiiii i ...... ' iB
• O- Gloss oeoos , : i i i i !i
-- ~ ~ -- atundu~ .,riders : III 1 :l',',',',
"11 " II, 1
_--_ _--_ .-: •- Cloy Roschlg rings tt i i tlllll I ......
~ - Lead shot " : : : :"
- - ~ A - - Mixed sizes ( round sond 1 I........
j ~ ~] ~' .]? .....
#t - Eorlier dolo (See figures tO ond 14} :" ,L,' ,;F.J
~. I0 ~ r

.... I ][Ill
d:
I . i 71'1;

' !O •

.......
~; ~--/~,
_~s~or~sond
,iii
I lllIIIl i1 ,,,,.
IIIIII "
i" • ,,IL I

: "@~iii IIIIIIIIi ,iiiiii,,,,, I

}~i.l
L , ....

;r,. I

• :~i tl;g:

" ~ " I Illll

~f !! ~dul

l'!t 'i ~,,*

I "'~ 1'17;"% ~ 1 ": : : : : : our(

I ,1" ill1
; I ~11

io+= I0"=
•
I0"* I0 °
'"'II = I0 I0 =
I 1O~
::::':
104. lOs
MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER ~DP---~
, ill}
l"tnc~E 35.--310DIFIED FI'£1CTION F+3xCTORS vs. 31ODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER.
94:".2'47 :~1- - 4
• |1 ~

nI i
 R.asehig-ring and Ahmdum-cvlinder data, the
hne t.o:' these partie]es merges into the line Figure 36 reports friction factors of t ! ¸
pertalnmg to smooth spheres. This indicates of Hatcl/,,.3observed durinz flow ^~e dab, ,- or
that the relation Ap, ocV is valid for the viscous rnrougn columns filled with various "~ Water
range and also that surface roughness has no sand._ Although no shape factors of ~[pes ~f!
effect upon flow in the viscous range. .~- :d~kal sands w~ere
. • •
mdmated, .tae lndi~
Hatch uomt-a .. 't]l(
m ms paper that all the materialJ ..... ~ u . o u t ,
Comparisons of friction factors are now possi-
ble for the various sands. Thus, at of
35 emphasizes that essential agreement betwe0a~
D v____~G=
I, water- and gas-flow data exists. Most of th'e tal
sands investigated by Hatchwere mixtures, aacl 111]
failure to reduce all the data into one sin~ie lin0:
for spheres, round sand, and sharp s a n d , / = 100, by the correlations advanced in this°l)a/~er, in.[i
135, and 225, respectively, permitting calcu- pi'obably is a result of the choice of particle,
lation of shape factors. Thus, for spheres, diameter. The relatively smaller deviatioN: ,tm
X2=1.00 and X=I.00; round sand, in the experimental constant shown in the Paper, • f~c,
by Hatch indicate that his improved eorrelatldfi~ C0~
X~. = 13___55 stems from particle diameters that were raea ~fal
100 .ured rather than defined by e,~uo~;^~ ~o~,, ~s-, C81

and X=1.16; and sharp sand, ,s felt, however, that althoug "G t o ' i J, :' ]DN
~ives somewhat less accurate results it is ~uf÷,
X..= 225 ~cientb precise for most engineering work. o' , tN
an
100
• COMPARISON OF TOWER PACKINGS IN V I S C O U S PLOW• :
sp(
and X=l.50. The friction-factor equation is Consideration of equation (40) shows t h a i %,

now readily obtained. From inspection under laminar flow conditions the bed-eharac-, 'T.~
terization factor, ~, equals ~
f = 100 (D~,G)-'. (38a) ,.t
o

(1 -- ~F-X2
~aDv2 :L
Substituting (38a) into (37) and using the re-
lation Ap ~),'~ results in On the basis of the earlier turbulent flow con-'>
ditions and the total available packing area/ aa
apL= &p 200G#LXe(1--~)~- saddles were believed to be superior to Rasohig)
Dv2pg~~s (40)

!/
120 , I ::
S,O00
IN i
Refer to tobies
3,000.,
15- 21~ 2 2 cod 2 3 Ao -,
' Be
2,000
,oo_____1___7 /v:- ;o ":
~,000 ..
=" 800
o • Le
~- 6 0 0 ? •
o
400 I "-"°° oo,o,,,,ooo# , / o ,.:
200 G < o~-._ S~he~e~ @ >S ,: !~i:~
!

100
e ' " S a n d - - - No. I--.0393 .0276 4o - / ~ T,
o 6C :V . . . . . . . . . No. 2--.0269 .0196
0 . . . . . . . . . No. 3--.0165 .0138
40 A . . . . . . . . No. 4--.0142 .0106
........ Na5--.0085 .0075
• ....... No.6".0160
o,.
20

I0
~ ) ....... No. 7--.0179
• . . . . . . . No-8-•:0192
I l I )fllll
o.: I;IIII
•0178
%

0.(
0.01 0,02 0.04 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.0 5 4
)
MODIFIED REYNOLDS NUMBER, Dp...GG
0 O.I 0.2 0.3 0.4 " ¢
Dp
P DI
/ • 7 .• .;
F I c c ~ E 3 6 . - - D A T A ON F L O W OF W A T E R F I G v ~ . 3 7 . - - V O L U M E A N D ARE,& C H A R A O T E R -
THROUGH S~XDS, OBSERVED BY HATCH ISTICS FOR VARIOUS TOWER pACKINGS !.
AXD CORRELATE~ ~v a r~,~,~To . . . . . . .
 t t '.!

PRESSURE DROP TI-IROUGI-I P A C K E D TUBES, VISCOUS FLOW 45 -. i ¸

a or Lessinz rin~s. Examination of the calcu- TABLE 22.--Calculated bed characterization data
,r lated data of tables 20 to ~3 mdlcates that (for in laminar flow for spheres, packed 1 foot high
smaller sizes) saddles are superior to rings if in a 3-inch-diameter ~essel
the comparison is made on the basis of surface
it •~rea. If total volume is the important factor, D~, i n c h e s fl~, in.-~ V~, i n ) A~, in. ~
'y Rasclfig rings are the most favorable packing,
just as in turbulent flow. Tables 21-23, per-

!
re 0.15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465 0. 120 4. 7 (,
.II taininz to cylinders, spheres, and granules .30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88. 7 • 607 12. 1~
I

le ndcr~iaminar flow conditions, show that on the .525 . . . . . . . . . . . . 20. 4 2•49 28. 4
*d basis of area,the granules are the most desirable .81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. 54 8. 56 63. 8 t,

material. Ihe data are also plotted in figure 37 1.02 2. 53 17. S 104
le . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42. 6 208
wtfich is analogous to figure 28 pertaining to 1.26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 01
,r 1.44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 656 59. 9 248 4
le turbulent flow.~ Although bed-characterization
IS factors based on laminar flow lead to the same
I,
_T conclusions as those based on turbulent flow, as
far as merits of individualpackings are con- TABLE 23.--Calculated bed-characterization data 'l , f

cerned, the relative'., Jpackin~, efficiencies seem in laminar flow for magnetite granules packed
considerably differ~,nt !or the individual shapes I foot high in a 3-inch-diameter ~,essel
invob ed her~. The e~ aluution of packings on
f- the basis of the concepts introduced here is new, D~,, i n c h e s fib in.-2 T]'c~ hl. 5 A~, in. 4 i '
and the ultimate value of the su_~gested analy- 4 .

sis must finally be judged on the~basis of more • t

specifically planned experimental studies• D•15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480 0.099 6. 81
84 .527 18. 3 d~
.30 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
tt 23. 9 1. 81 35. 6
T.~BLE 20.~Bed-characterization data for Raschig •525 . . . . . . . . . . . .
8. 43 4. 94 63. 7
.81 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
rings, B~rl .~addle.:', and Lessing rings (laminar 1.02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. 85 8. 47 86• 2
flol,:)

COMPARISON OF VARIOUS CORRELATIONS

[m I ": 4 "

Raschig rin~s: I k comparison of calculated pressure drops

t,
!~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 79. 0 ! 315 [ 8. 25 according to various investigators 34 is shown
g in table 24. The analysis pertains to flow of
r .

I____222::::::2:2:: 1~2025 3, 2,~7s5II ~143s"5

2. 43 2, 800 [ 199
air through a 1-inch-diameter tube. Bed void-
ages were calculated by using figure 25. .F. ,;"2"
1~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 5, 230 554 ! '
The correlation, according to Chilton and j, Ij
Berl s a d d l e s :
• ? ~ .................. 82. 5 377 6. 91 Colbm•np5 suggests very high values for condi-
!i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20. 8 848 26. 1
1.................. 3. 69 2, 378 t 114
tions in the turbulent-flow ranges; for laminarr "4;'
1]~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 48 3, 998 274 flow, on the other hand, the proposed values
Lessin~ r i n ~ s : are the lowest.• It is probable that these devia- '11I

1.................. 3. 14 2, 480 147 tions arise from the fact that the Chilton- o
•
i
L
.,!
11~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 30 2, 608 I 223 Colburn con'elation does not make sufficient
l~! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.44 3, 150 377
2 ................... 621 5, 840 702 allowance for the shape of the particles and the
voidage in the bed. Agreement between the
4 Values (,stimated from void data for cylinders from fig• 25. Carman 36 correlation and the equation pro-
posed in this paper is satisfactory• The Car- t i

TABLE 21.--Calculated bed-characterization data man equation predicts slightly higher values
in lamim~r flow for cylinders packed 1 foot for the turbulent flow range and for spheres.
high in a o-iiwh-di'ameter ressel This may possibly be a result of the fact that
Carman considered surface roughness of little .'2
D~. i u c h ] fl~, in.-~ Vc, in. ~ A¢, in. 4 importance. The agreement of values proposed , 4o"

by the correlation of tIappel 37 with those of

Carman and this paper is remarkable, especi-
0.0715 . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 628 0. 0 1 5 8 1. 5~ ally since the Happel equation does not specifi- , I ,J
• 143 . . . . . . . . . . . . 800 •0711 3. 4 ~, cally account for the effect of particle shape.
•2 8 6 . . 177 • 316 7. 6~
•~29. ~::::::::l o2.7 • 866 13•2 The Brownell and Katz as con'elation suggests
•5005 . . . . . . . . . . . 1.28 17.6
.572 . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.41"86 1.90 22. 4 34 See references and footnotes in table 24.
•715 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.53 33. 9 ,5 Work cited in footnote 19, p. 4.
•85~ 14. 4 ,6 Work cited in footno!e ~t~,p. 5.
7 d~ .52 1

!
It

1
 46 F L U I D F L O W THROUG/Z/ PACKED AND F L U I D I Z E D S Y S T E X [ s

unusually low values for flow through ring ing seems to explain the considerably hi h
packings. This is believed to be primarily a values suggested by the Oman -~-~ v~- • g er
result of the voidage function that these investi- ,,,,u n atsoa ~,
gators used in their correlation. Similar reason- packings.
mrmula for flow through high-voidage ~qng

TABLE 24.~Calculated pressure drops according to va~ous investigators

%:
P r e s s u r e d r o p p e r u n i t p a c k e d hei,~ht A P , .
o ,~ t p o u n a s Per Sr, tla~-
re_or p e r foot), f o r flow of air a t 70 ° F t h . . . . ~ - ." ~c
pacKea w i t h ~ • ~uuoa a l - i n c a tube
Reference
4
S m~ o' P oa Zt h" rin~s 8,~ i -
~ /8-L*, S m o o t h rin¢,~ 3/:_
Spheres, D r = 0 . 2 5 o

in., X = l . 0 , ~ = 0 . 4 3 / ,
z,/s-re. X,~-in, ..3/ . o'j
X/s-ln. )< l].fn
/8-111

a n d R e = 1000
x=2.18, 8=0 73~ "

Do=o.3 3 in.: a;"a ~v----0.353in. and

~ e - = 1000 Re-~ l
( ' h i l t o n and Colburn
Carman b ..........................
153
".'4
O n l a n a n d -f~%-tson-~- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29. 3
107 0. 000106
B r o w n e l l a n d K a t z a- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. 76
100 • 000373
Authors_.. - ........ - ...... 14. 9
68. 8
81. 6
• 73
6. 75 • 000234
124 • 000414
5. 45
17.0 • 000256
a Work cited in footnote 19. p. 4. • 000679
b Work cited in footnote 36, p. 5.
¢ Work cited in footnote 38, p. 6.
d Work cited in footnote 39, p. 6.
e Work cited in footnote 24, p. 5.
t Work cited in footnotes 13 and 14, p. 4.

Some of Happel's data have been recalcu-

lated, and Inetion-factor plots are shown in ameter is the variable sought, the nomogram is
figures 38 and 39 according to Happel's corre- of special value because it permits a rapid
lation and equation 41. Although it appears trial and error solution for values of D~ and
that the equation m a y be used to predict. that are consistent with some established
pre~u~:cic~rop t h r o u g h moving beds ,,'hen the relationship, such as figure 25 or 94.
~. " ,~ ' y re~anve to the moving bed is used, d i n using figure 40, it is necessary only to
J: f the ori~,inal correlation as proposed by Happel eclde on which axis the unknown value, will be
seems to fit the data somewhat better. found and then to follow the order in
the key of the figure to arrive at tha glven
axis as
IiJ i NOMOGBAPH the last point. To increase the range of :
To aid in the rapid solution of equation 40
variables without unduly compressing the scales,
for any one of the variables when the others are
constants X and Y are used as multipliers as '
indicated in the figure. Any values of X and
known, the nomograph of figure 40 has een
prepared. Estimation of the necessary q b "_ m a y be chosen that will i~eep the values of
ties, such as shape factors and voids h uanti Xu, ~zu, and X:YaP/r, on the scale; generally, i
-~i! iI covered in previous so~#;^~ ~ , ..as been multiples of 10 will be found most convenient.
r'
. . . . ~,~. _u pamele di- z9Work cited in footnote 38, p. 6.

II: ~
T I(~
zX
PRESSURE

'
z~.
'
DROP THROUGH

I
I
PACKED

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I
'
TUBES, YISCOUS FLO]V

Illtlll
• Material
o ,,
No. 8
II
Countercurrent flow

,, 16
Pellet catalyst
Vetch seed --
47

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--'LL~ ' I X " " 18 Okra seed

i , + " " I Granular catalyst.

" " 15 Rape seed

I,

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, I0z lOS l"

NRem
i
I~'I,]URE 3 8 . - - F L O W T H R O U G H ~ I O V I ~ ' G B E D S ; D A T A A~"D C O R R E L A T I O N OF
HAPPEL.

I II
io~[... ,I I
iII'
I]
I
,!
! i !i lil i, I i .rz. ,;
4

' ~\
I/~3"n
i • 1.]
I Correlated according to i ,n i" '

Ii Ap : 2fG2k
D Pgo
t iP {;3
(I- $)3-n. i

t
' 'i

~-. i0 u
~"- ] c,,
I i --t-~ ,o

I i i fused Mg0
I!
Key to symbols given i I • ,[

I- I in figure I ~o.~,~¢'~ ]'~,,r TT .A

, ij
*?t

,o°1
[t 'i
I ,i

ioo 101
OpG
102 103

P l

FZCVRE 3 9 . - - H A P P E L ' S DATA CORRELATED ACCORDING TO EQUATION 41.

L.",
1