Studies on Minimum Fluidization Velocity and Liquid Hold in an Internal Loop Airlift Fluidized Bed Reactor

Abstract

The influence of superficial gas and liquid velocities, particle diameter and sphericity, physical and rheological properties of liquids on minimum fluidization velocity and liquid holdup were studied in an internal loop airlift fluidized bed reactor. Spheres, Bearl saddles and Raschig rings were used as solid phases. Water, n-Butanol, two concentrations of Glycerol (60 and 80%) were used as Newtonian liquids and three concentrations (0.25%, 0.6% and 1.0%) of Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) solutions were used as non-Newtonian liquids. Superficial gas velocity was varied from 0.142 x 10-3 m/s to 5.662 x 10-3 m/s and superficial liquid velocity was varied from 0.001 to 0.12 m/s. The experimental results showed that increase in particle size and sphericity increased minimum fluidization velocity whereas increase in superficial gas velocity decreased minimum fluidization velocity. The liquid holdup increased with increase in particle size and superficial liquid velocity. An increase in superficial gas velocity decreased the liquid holdup for Newtonian and non-Newtonian systems. Based on the experimental results separate correlations were developed for the prediction of minimum fluidization velocity and liquid holdup for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids for a wide range of operating conditions.