Fluidization

FLUIDIZATION
Luisa Cardenas
Valentina Castiblanco
Dylan Navarro
Andrea Vera
FLUIDIZATION
Fundamentals
• When a fluid is passed upwards through a bed of particles the
pressure loss in the fluid due to frictional resistance increases
with increasing fluid flow
• A point is reached when the upward drag force exerted by the
fluid on the particles is equal to the apparent weight of
particles in the bed
• At this point the particles are lifted by the fluid, the separation
of the particles increases and the bed becomes fluidized
• The force balance across the fluidized bed dictates that the
fluid pressure loss across the bed of particles is equal to the
apparent weight of the particles per unit area of the bed
• For a bed of particles of density rp, fluidized by a fluid of
density rf to form a bed of depth H and voidage e in a vessel of
cross-sectional area A
• Plot of fluid pressure loss across the bed vs superficial fluid

velocity through the bed:
• OA is the packed bed region
• Solid particles do not move relative to one another and
their separation is constant
• Pressure loss vs fluid velocity relationship is described by
the Carman-Kozeny equation and the Ergun equation
• BC is the fluidized bed region
• At point A, pressure loss rises above the value predicted
• This rise is more marked in small vessels and in powders
which have been compacted to some extent before the
test
• Associated with the extra force required to overcome
wall friction and adhesive forces between bed and
distributor
• Superficial fluid velocity at which the packed bed becomes a fluidized
bed is known as the minimum fluidization velocity, Umf
• Sometimes referred to as the velocity at incipient fluidization
• Umf increases with particle size and particle density and is affected by
fluid properties
• To derive expression for Umf, equate expression for pressure loss in
a fluidized bed with pressure loss across a packed bed
• Applying the Ergun equation,
• Where Ar is the dimensionless number known as the
Archimedes number
• And Remf is the Reynolds number at incipient fluidization
• In order to obtain a value of Umf, we need to know the voidage

of the bed at incipient fluidization, e = emf
• A typical value of emf is 0.4
• Wen and Yu (1966) produced an empirical correlation for Umf
• This correlation is valid for spheres in the range 0.01 < Remf <
1000 and is often expressed in the form:
• For gas fluidization, the Wen and Yu correlation is often taken

as most suitable for particles larger than 100 mm
• The correlation of Baeyens and Geldart (1974) is best for
particles less than 100 mm
Relevant Powder and Particle Properties
• The correct density for use in fluidization equations is the
particle density
• Defined as the mass of a particle divided by its hydrodynamic
volume
• Volume ‘seen’ by the fluid in its fluid dynamic interaction with
the particle
• Includes the volume of all open and closed pores
• Bed density is also used in connection with fluidized beds

• Another density often used is the bulk density, defined in a
similar way to fluid bed density
• The most appropriate particle size to use in equations relating

to fluid-particle interactions is a hydrodynamic diameter
• For use in fluidization applications, starting from a sieve analysis
the mean size of the powder is often calculated from
• Where xi is the arithmetic mean of adjacent sieves between

which a mass fraction mi is collected
Bubbling and Non-bubbling Fluidization
• Beyond the minimum fluidization velocity bubbles or particle-
free voids may appear in the fluidized bed
• At superficial velocities above the minimum fluidization velocity,

fluidization may in general be either bubbling or non-bubbling
• Some combinations of fluid and particles give rise to only
bubbling fluidization and some combinations give only non-
bubbling fluidization
• Most liquid fluidized systems do not give rise to bubbling
• Gas fluidized systems give either only bubbling fluidization or non-

bubbling fluidization beginning at Umf, followed by bubbling
fluidization as fluidizing velocity increases
• Non-bubbling fluidization is also known as particulate or
homogeneous fluidization
• Bubbling fluidization is often referred to as aggregative or
heterogeneous fluidization
Classification of Powders
• Geldart (1973) classified powders into
four groups according to their
fluidization properties at ambient
conditions
• The Geldart classification of powders is
now used widely in all fields of powder
technology
• Group A – powders which when
fluidized by air at ambient conditions
give a region of non-bubbling fluidization
beginning at Umf, followed by bubbling
fluidization as fluidizing velocity
increases
• Group B – powders which under these
conditions give only bubbling fluidization
• Group C – powders which are very fine,
cohesive and are incapable of
fluidization
• Group D – large particles distinguished
by their ability to produce deep
spouting beds
• Since the range of gas velocities over which non-bubbling
fluidization occurs in Group A powders is small, bubbling
fluidization is the type most commonly encountered in gas
fluidized systems in commercial use
• The superficial gas velocity at which bubbles first appear is
known as the minimum bubbling velocity Umb
• Premature bubbling can be caused by poor distributor design
or protuberances inside the bed
• Abrahamsen and Geldart (1980) correlated the maximum
values of Umb with gas and particle properties using the
following correlation
• Where F is the fraction of powder less than 45 mm

• In Group A powders, Umb > Umf
• Bubbles are constantly splitting and coalescing and a maximum
stable bubble size is achieved
• This makes for good quality, smooth fluidization
• In Groups B and D powders, Umb = Umf

• Bubbles continue to grow, never achieving a maximum size
• This makes for rather poor quality fluidization associated with
large pressure fluctuations
• In Group C powders, the
interparticle forces are large
compared with the inertial forces
on the particles
• Particles are unable to achieve the
separation required to be totally
supported by drag and buoyancy
forces
• True fluidization does not occur
• Bubbles do not appear, instead the
gas flow forms channels through
the powder
• Since the particles are not fully
supported by the gas, pressure loss
across the bed is always less than
apparent weight of the bed per
unit cross-sectional area
• When the size of the bubbles is greater than about one-third
of the diameter of the equipment their rise velocity is
controlled by the equipment and they become slugs of gas
• Slugging is attended by large pressure fluctuations and so it is
generally avoided in large units since it can cause vibration to
the plant
• Slugging is unlikely to occur at any velocity if the bed is
sufficiently shallow
• Slugging will not occur provided the following criterion is
satisfied:
• If the bed is deeper than this critical height, then slugging will
occur when the gas velocity exceeds Ums:
Entrainment
• The term entrainment describes the ejection of particles from the
surface of a bubbling bed and their removal from the vessel in the
fluidizing gas
• Other terms such as ‘carryover’ and ‘elutriation’ are often used
• Entrainment of particles in an upward-flowing gas stream is a
complex process
• Rate of entrainment and size distribution of entrained particles will
in general depend on particle size and density, gas properties, gas
velocity, gas flow regime and vessel diameter
• Prediction of entrainment from first principles is not possible and in
practice an empirical approach must be adopted
• Define coarse particles as particles whose terminal velocities are
greater than the superficial gas velocity (UT > U)
• Fine particles are particles which UT < U
• Region above fluidized bed surface
is considered to be composed of
several zones
• Freeboard – region between the
bed surface and gas outlet
• Splash zone – region just above the
bed surface in which coarse
particles fall back down
• Disengagement zone – region
above the splash zone in which the
upward flux and suspension
concentration of fine particles
decreases with increasing height
• Dilute-phase transport zone –
region above the disengagement
zone in which all particles are
carried upwards, particle flux and
suspension concentration are
constant with height
• Transport disengagement height (TDH) – height from
the bed surface to the top of the disengagement zone
• Above TDH the entrainment flux and concentration of
particles is constant
• From design point of view, in order to gain maximum
benefit from the effect of gravity in the freeboard, gas
exit should be placed above TDH
• Many empirical correlations for TDH are available in the
literature
• Where dbvs is the equivalent volume diameter of a

bubble at the surface
• Empirical estimation of entrainment rates from fluidized beds
• Where Kih* is the elutriation rate constant (the entrainment

flux at height h above the bed surface for the solids of size xi,
when mBi = 1.0), MB is the total mass of solids in the bed, A is
the area of bed surface and mBi is the fraction of the bed mass
with size xi at time t
• For continuous operation, mBi and MB are constant
• The solids loading of size xi in the off-gases is

• The total solids loading of the gas leaving the freeboard is
• For batch operation, the rates of entrainment of each size
range, the total entrainment rate and the particle size
distribution of the bed change with time
• Where D(mBiMB) is the mass of solids in size range i entrained

in time increment Dt
• Mass of solids remaining in the bed at time
• Where subscript t refers to the value at time t
• Solution of a batch entrainment problem proceeds by

sequential application of above equations for required time
period
• The elutriation rate constant Kih* cannot be predicted from
first principles
• Correlations are usually in terms of the carryover rate above
TDH, Ki∞*
• For particles > 100 mm and U > 1.2 m/s
• For particles < 100 mm and U < 1.2 m/s

Applications of Fluidized Beds
• Physical processes include drying,
mixing, granulation, coating, heating
and cooling
• These processes take advantage of
the excellent mixing capabilities of
the fluidized bed
• One of the most important
applications is to the drying of
solids
• Fluidized beds are often used to
cool particulate solids following a
reaction
• Cooling may be by fluidizing air
alone or by use of cooling water
passing through tubes immersed in
the bed
• Gas fluidized bed is also a good
medium to carry out a chemical
reaction involving a gas and a solid
• Gas-solid contacting is generally
good
• Excellent solids circulation within
the bed promotes good heat
transfer between bed particles and
fluidizing gas and between the bed
and heat transfer surfaces
immersed in the bed
• Gives rise to near isothermal
conditions even when reactions
are strongly exothermic or
endothermic
• Good heat transfer gives rise to
ease of control of the reaction
• Fluidity of the bed makes for ease
of removal of solids from reactor
REFERENCIAS
MARTIN RHODES (2008) Introduction to Particle Technology, 2nd Edition.
Publisher John Wiley & Son, Chichester, West Sussex, England.

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FLUIDIZATION

• Plot of fluid pressure loss across the bed vs superficial fluid

• And Remf is the Reynolds number at incipient fluidization

• In order to obtain a value of Umf, we need to know the voidage

• Wen and Yu (1966) produced an empirical correlation for Umf

• For gas fluidization, the Wen and Yu correlation is often taken

• Bed density is also used in connection with fluidized beds

• The most appropriate particle size to use in equations relating

• Where xi is the arithmetic mean of adjacent sieves between

• At superficial velocities above the minimum fluidization velocity,

• Gas fluidized systems give either only bubbling fluidization or non-

• Where F is the fraction of powder less than 45 mm

• In Groups B and D powders, Umb = Umf

• Where dbvs is the equivalent volume diameter of a

• Where Kih* is the elutriation rate constant (the entrainment

• The solids loading of size xi in the off-gases is

• Where D(mBiMB) is the mass of solids in size range i entrained

• Mass of solids remaining in the bed at time

• Where subscript t refers to the value at time t

• Solution of a batch entrainment problem proceeds by

• For particles < 100 mm and U < 1.2 m/s

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