Mass transfer coefficients for gas to particle have been correlated

reasonably well; the Sherwood number, Eq. (12.87), is a function of the

Schmidt number [Eq. (8.6)], the fluidization Reynolds number [Eq. (12.94)],
and the quantity d,/(x,L,), where x, is the volume fraction of solids involved
in the mass transfer (xs = 1 when no inert solids are present).
The most recent correlations, as recommended by Wen and Fane [Wl]
for gas to particle fluidized beds, are:
. = / = 0,43( )0,97 ( )0,33 0,5 80 (12.111)

. = / = 12,5 ( )0,2 ( )0,33 80 103 (12.112)

where NMRe is the empirically modified Reynolds number defined as

= 0,6 0,6 5 < . < 120
.( ) = ( )

(12.113)
These equations work fairly well, except in the case of catalytic reaction
systems, where kfb is underestimated [W2].
The above correlations can be of use in heat transfer estimation by
assuming that the Colburn analogy is valid; i.e., jH equals jM.

12.3.3 Liquid-solid fluidization

Liquid-solid fluidization is almost exclusively particulate fluidization-a mostly
uniform bed where the solids circulate randomly and individually throughout
the bed without significant bubble formation. The void fraction in particulate
fluidization has been correlated by many investigators [C2]. The most widely
used equation is that of Richardson and Zaki [R3, R4, R5]:
= / (12.114)
where U. is the superficial velocity measured in the empty column and Ui is the
superficial velocity for a void fraction equal to unity. Equation (12.114) is
useful for both particle sedimentation and fluidization; for fluidization, Ui is
, , = , , = / (12.115)
with d, being the particle diameter and d, the column diameter, and U, the
terminal free-falling velocity (cf. Section 12.2.3). The empirical exponent n in
the Richardson-Zaki equation for fluidization has been correlated as follows
[C2]:
= 4,65 + (20)( / ) . < 0,2 (12.116)
= [4,4 + (18)( / )](. )0.03 0,2 < . < 1 (12.117)
= [4,4 + (18)( / )](. )0.01 1 < . < 200 (12.118)
= 4,4(. )0.1 200 < . < 500 (12.119)
= 2,4 . < 500 (12.120)
614 APPLICATIONS OF TRANSPORT PHENOMENA

where the Reynolds number NRe,r7 is based on the terminal velocity U, and the
viscosity and density of the fluid at zero solids concentration:
. = / (12.121)
Correlations for nonspherical particles and fluidization with a range of particle
sizes have been reviewed elsewhere [C2, Fl].
The expanded bed height Lfb is calculated from
4
= 02 (1) (12.122)

The velocity for minimum fluidization can be estimated from Eqs.
(12.116) through (12.120). Also, the Richardson-Zaki equation, Eq. (12.114)
applies to gas-solid fluidization, although the experimentally observed values
of IZ are significantly higher than those predicted by Eqs. (12.116) through
(12.120). Likewise, Eq. (12.122) applies equally for gas-solid and liquid-solid
fluidization.
The pressure drop between fluid and particles during particulate fluidiza-
tion has not yet been correlated satisfactorily. The pressure drop is a complex
function of the fluid properties as well as dp, pp, , the shape of the particles,
(pp = p), and the flow patterns within the bed. This lack of correlation is not a
serious problem, however, as the use of purely particulate beds is usually
limited to liquid systems. A modification of the Ergun equation [E2] is widely
used to correlate pressure drop; however, no generalization is recommended
because the resulting equations are very sensitive to the values of dan untuk
the sphericity [C2]. Figure 12.25 is based on gas-solid fluidization, but it
applies equally to particulate fluidization. Since the pressure drop increases
only slightly with a 3- to 5-fold velocity increase fromUmf, Eq. (12.98) can be
used to calculate -AP,,,~, once e,f and the other variables have been
determined. Note that the liquid head is often significant and must be included
in -p.
Equations (12.95) through (12.97) for prediction of Umf apply equally for
liquid-solid fluidization, since the constants in Eq. (12.97) were obtained from
both liquid and gas systems. In order to correlate the superficial velocity with
pressure drop, it is recommended that several bed heights, Lfb, be measured
experimentally for known U,, (and, better still, known Ap/L). Then from Eq.
(12.93) and the following
2 3
3 3 ()
= = (150)( 2
(12.123)
1 )(1)
the constant k3 may be determined for the system of interest.

TRANSPORT PAST IMMERSED BODIES 615

Heat and mass transfer. Grace [G5] has reviewed the heat transfer correla-
tions applicable to liquid-solid fluidixation. It is evident that gas-solid heat
transfer equations do not apply to liquid-solid systems. For mass transfer
between particle and liquid, Wen and Fane [Wl] recommend

Liquid allidized beds

 . = / = 2,0 + 1,5[(1 )(. )]0,5 ( )0,33 (12.124)

Also, Shen et al. [S3] studied particle-liquid mass transfer in a fluidixed bed
using Reynolds numbers from 0.6 to 7.3.

Conclusion. Fluidixed beds have several advantages over static beds. The
small size of the particle used in fluidixed beds results in a large surface area
for a given quantity of solids, which in turn gives high rates of surface reaction,
heat transfer, and mass transfer. Also, the small size reducesthe resistance to
mass diffusion within the particle. The rapid mixing of solids with fluid within a
fluidized bed results in a uniform temperature within the bed and a high rate of
heat transfer between the fluid and the walls. This increased heat transfer is
especially important when highly exothermic or endothermic reactions are
taking place in the bed. Another advantage lies in the ability to increase the
velocity by varying the area so as to transport the solid particles into or out of
the reactor. Fluid catalytic cracking of petroleum is a very important example
of fluidization and pneumatic transport.
Of course, there are problems associated with fluidization. If the particles
are the catalyst, which is so often the case, then the fluidization process will
cause attrition (i.e., breakdown) of the solids. These fines are immediately
entrained and must be removed after the fluid has exited the bed. The process
by which the small particles are pneumatically transported out the top while
the normally sized particles are fluidized in the bed is called elutriation. Over a
period of time, the catalyst must be replaced because of the combined
processes of attrition and elutriation.
At the present time, there is no satisfactory way to design a large-scale
fluidization unit with bench-scale kinetic data alone. Scale-up is a serious
problem in fluidization. Careful attention must also be given to the design of
the fluid distributor plates that introduce the gas into the bed of solids.

Example 12.14. Anthracite coal, density 94lbm ft3 (1506 kg m-3), is to be

fluidized with air at 20 psia and 842F in a vessel 10 ft in diameter. Fifteen tons of
coal, ground to an average diameter of 200 m, are placed in the vessel, which is
filled to a height of 7 ft. The acceleration due to gravity is 9.78 m s-2.
Compute (a) the static void fraction, (b) the minimum void fraction and
bed height for fluidization, (c) the settling velocity for a single particle in a static
fluid, (d) the minimum pressure drop for fluidization, (e) the minimum velocity
for entrainment, and (f) the heat transfer coefficient at the wall for a superficial
velocity 2.5 times Umf

616 APPLICATIONS OF TRANSPORT PHENOMENA

For air at 842F and 14.6% psia, the following are available:
p = 0.487 x 10-3 g cm = 0.487 kg m-3
= 3.431 x l0-2 cP = 3.431 x 10-5 kg m-1 s-1 (i)
k = 0.05379 W m-1 K-1
Npr = 0,7025
Answer. English units will be selected for this solution.
(a) Static void fraction. To find the void fraction, first the volume of coal and the
total volume are calculated. The total volume of coal is the mass divided by
density:

Vtotal = (15)(2000)/94 [(ton)(lbm, ton-1)/(lbm, ft3)I = 319.1 ft3

The total volume of the vessel at a height of 7 ft is
V total = (area)(length) = (2 /4)(L) = (10)2(7)/(4) = 549.8 ft3
Using Eq. (12.81), the static void fraction is

549,8319,1
= = = = 0,42
549,8

(b) Minimum void &action and bed height. The minimum void fraction for fluidization
can be estimated from either Fig. 12.24 (for atmospheric pressure only) or
Eq. (12.92). The particle diameter is 200 m, or 0.00787 in. Figure 12.24 predicts to be
about 0.58. From Eq. (12.92):

= (1 )(1 1 )(1 ) = (7)(1 0,42)/(1 0,58)

= 9.675 = 2,949
(c) Minimpm flaidipti011 velocity. The minimum velocity for fluidization is estimated
using the Archimedes number. Of the properties of air in Eq. (i), only the
density changes appreciably with a small increase in pressure to 20 psia:

/ = /
= (0,487)(20)/(14,696) = 0,663 3 = 0,0414 , 3
From Eq. (12.96), the Archimedes number is

= (3 )( )/2

= (0.663)(9.78)(200 x 106 )3(1506 0.663)/(3.431 X l05 )2

x [(kg m3 )(m s2 )(m3 )(kg m3 )/(kg m1 s1 )2 ]

= 66,33

From Eq. (12.97), the Reynolds number at minimum fluidization is

. = (12 + 2 )1/2 1

= [(27.2)2 + (0.0408)(66.33)]1/2 27.2 = 0.04970

617 TRANSPORT PAST IMMERSED BODIES

Using the definition of NRc.,,,r, Eq. (12.95) the velocity for minimum fluidization

is

= (. )()/( ) = [(0,04970)(3,431 105 )]/[(200 106 )(0,663)]

= 0,012 % 1 = 0,0422 1
This velocity seems low, but remember that U,,,, is a superficial velocity, based on
an empty chamber. The velocity in the gaps surrounding these very fine particles
will be much higher.
( d ) Miaimum pressllre dmp. The minimum pressure drop for fluidization is calcu-
lated from Eq. (12.98):

= +
(1 )( )

= (1560 0,663)(9,78)(1 0,58)(2,949)

+ (0,663)(9,78)(2,949)[( 3 )( 2 )()]

= 1,825 104 1 2 = 1,825 104 = 2,647

(e) Particle setthug velocity. Assuming no hindered settling, Eq. (12.79) will be

used to find an expression for the terminal velocity:

2 = (8 )( )/(3 )

2 = [(8)(200 106 /2)(9,78)(1506 0,663)]/

[(3)(0,663)( )] [()( 2 )( 3 )/( 3 )

= 5,923 /

where the units of 2 m2 s-2. Following the procedure in Example 12.12,

Newtons law, Eq. (12.76), will be tried (CD = 0.44):

Ut = (5.923/0.44)1/2 = 3.669 m s-1 = 12.04 ft s-1

The particle Reynolds number, Eq. (12.68), i s

. = / = ( )(200 106 )(0,663)/(3,431 105 ) = 3,865

= (3,865)(3,669) = 14,18

Clearly, at the point of minimum velocity for fast fluidization, the terminal

settling velocity is not in the range of Newtons law. Therefore, Eq. (12.75) for

the transition region will be tried. Equation (12.75) is solved for Cu and then

substituted into Eq. (xii):

5,923 5,923 5,923 0,6
2 =
= 18,5
. ( )0,6 = 18,5
( ) ( )0,6

5,923 2 104 )(0,663) 0,6

= ( 18,5 ) ( 3,431 105
) ( )0,6 =(0,7205) ( )0,6 (xv)

Equation (xv) is solved for the terminal velocity (the entrainment velocity):
1
= (0,7205)20,6 = 0,7912 1 = 2,596 1

Checking the solution, from Eq. (xiv) the Reynolds number is 3.06; from Eq.
(12.75) CD is 9.46, and from Fig. 12.16 CD is about 12. Since Ut is for a single

particle, the void fraction is zero, and Ut is both a superficial velocity and the

actual velocity.

618 APPLICATIONS OF TRANSPORT PHENOMENA